Tyre Fitting in Bigbury

Bigbury is a coastal South Hams village close to Bigbury-on-Sea and Burgh Island, and the narrow lanes fill up with visitors in summer. A car that sits in slow queues and stop-start parking has tyres that work harder than the mileage suggests.

We fit tyres at our garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. People come to us from Bigbury and from Ringmore, Kingston, Bantham and Thurlestone, and we are happy to talk through what your car needs.

How do I check my tyres before a busy summer?

Start with the tread. The legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread, and tyres close to that limit struggle in wet conditions. Then run your hand carefully over the sidewalls for cuts and bulges.

Visitors loading a car for a week away should also check the pressure to suit the load, because a heavy boot changes how the tyres wear. Your handbook or the sticker in the door frame shows the figure for your vehicle.

• Tread depth across the whole width
• Sidewalls free of cuts and bulges
• Date code on the sidewall
• Spare or repair kit in place

What happens with a puncture near the coast?

Sand, grit and stones collect on narrow coastal roads and car parks, and nails turn up wherever there is building work. A puncture in the central tread can often be repaired, once the tyre has been removed and inspected from the inside.

A hole in the sidewall cannot be mended, and a tyre that has been run flat may be damaged beyond repair even if the hole is small. We will tell you after we have looked at it.

Why does my steering wheel shake or the car drift?

A steering wheel that shudders at a steady speed is typically a balancing problem, which is fixed by adding small weights to the wheel. A car that drifts sideways or wears the inside edge of a tyre points towards wheel alignment, also called tracking.

Kerbs in tight village streets and parking spaces are a common cause. If you have only noticed the fault since a knock, tell us when it started.

Where do I bring the car if I live in Bigbury?

Bring it to Automaster at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. We serve Bigbury, Bigbury-on-Sea and the neighbouring villages, and ask only that you contact us first for a quote so we know what to expect.

If you are a holiday visitor with a tyre problem, say so when you ask, and give us the details of the car and the tyre size where possible.

What affects the cost of new tyres?

Size is the main driver, followed by the type of tyre, the speed and load rating your vehicle needs, and how many you replace. Alignment and balancing are separate jobs and add to the work involved.

We do not quote prices on this page, because they depend on your vehicle. Send us your registration and tyre size and ask for a quote.