Fully Equipped
We have a fully equipped tyre fitting and wheel balancing department. Wheel balancing is very critical on all cars as this affects the handling and the lifespan of the moving components of the steering and suspension, if this is wrong what could have been an inexpensive fix, could become a very costly one.
At Southside we have repaired and replaced a wide range of car tyres to keep you and your car on the road. We supply and fit a variety of tyres to a wide range of vehicles and stock most common types of tyres. Our body-shop is equipped with the latest technology to ensure a swift turnaround and professional service.
What do I need to know about UK tyre law?
UK law requires that your vehicle is fitted with the correct type and size of tyre for the vehicle type you are driving and for the purpose it is being used. This means fitting the right tyres and for safety ensuring that they are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
The legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on your tyres is 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre.
For safety reasons it is recommended that you replace your tyres before the legal limit is reached. Many vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing at 3 millimetres. To see the impact on braking distance of different tyre tread depths, At 1.6 millimetres in wet weather it takes an extra car length (8 metres) to stop at 50 mph than if your tread was 3 millimetres.
A regular check of your tyres can help you to avoid 3 penalty points and £2,500 in fines (per tyre) for having tyres worn beyond the legal minimum limit on your vehicle.
It is also a legal requirement to ensure that tyres of different construction types are not fitted to opposite sides of the same axle. The two main tyre types are radial and cross-ply, and these must not be mixed on the same axle.
Mixing brands and patterns of the same construction type is permissible depending on the vehicle type and manufacturers recommendation. Check your vehicle’s handbook for tyre fitment details and options or ask us to look this up for you.