Frequently Asked Questions
No, however under testing laws a vehicle will fail its roadworthiness test if the two tyres on the one axle are not the same size or type e.g. radial vs. cross-ply, run-flat, winter or summer. For best performance the same type of tyre should be fitted in all four wheel positions.
Currently there is no law in Ireland which states that you should or should not fit such tyres. We advise that should you wish to install a set of snow tyres always install a full set of four to reduce the risks of over and under steer. Once the possibility of snow is gone remove snow or winter tyres and reinstall all-season or summer tyres.
Any tyre manufactured since 01 October 2011 must bear an s-Mark. This stands for ‘Sound’ and shows the amount of road noise produced by the tyre complies with EU or international standards.
An e-mark confirms that a tyre meets minimum EU or international UNECE standards. E-mark tyres have been tested to ensure adequate tread depth and performance ability. All motor vehicles tyre in the EU must be e-marked, whether new or re-treaded.
New EU Legislation dictates that every new tyre sold within Europe (with a few exceptions*) must be labelled. In a bid to make the label easy to understand it’s designed in a similar way to the labels you’ll see on a new fridge or washing machine.
Explanation of tyre labels
Fuel consumption
The rolling resistance of your tyres is a key contributing factor in the amount of fuel that your car uses. Low rolling resistance equals better fuel economy and vice versa. The classification enables you to assess fuel efficiency per 100km. Class A corresponds to the best performance and class G to the worst.
Wet grip
This rating provides info on the tyres grip levels on wet roads, A being the best and G being the worst. The rating is calculated by a stopping distance test on a wet road at 50mph
External rolling noise (in dB)
The tyres exterior noise rating is expressed in decibels. One black soundwave indicates the lowest noise level. Three black soundwaves indicates the loudest noise level.
The correct tyre pressures for your car can usually be found on the inside of the fuel filler cap, on the driver’s door jamb or in the owner’s manual. There should be two values, one for normal load, and another for when the vehicle is fully loaded. It is important to check your tyre pressures when they are cold as warm air inside hot tyres expands and will give a high reading. Remember to replace the valve cap for proper sealing.
Under inflated tyres
An underinflated tyre will wear out more quickly and is likely to overheat. Excessive overheating can result in a blowout. An underinflated tyre will also have a detrimental effect on your cars ride and handling.
Over-inflated tyres
An overinflated tyre will lead to faster wear of the tyre in the centre of the tread and will give an overly firm ride and will affect you cars handling. As a general rule, check your tyre pressures once a month. Remember to check the spare wheel pressure too.
Ordering the correct size tyres is vitally important. The easiest way to identify the tyre size you need is to read the numbers on the side wall of your existing tyres.
Some Of The Brands We Stock
