Tyre Fitting in Brixham

Brixham is a working fishing port with a busy harbour, steep hills and heavy holiday traffic in summer. Stop-start queues, tight turns and repeated braking on slopes all work the tyres harder than a straight run would.

Automaster is an independent garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Here is what matters about your tyres, how punctures are dealt with, and what to tell us when you ask for a quote.

What do steep Brixham hills do to my tyres?

Hill driving puts heavy load on the front tyres under braking and on the drive wheels when pulling away. Over time that can mean faster wear on particular tyres, and edges that scuff in tight harbour-side turns.

It is worth looking at all four tyres rather than only the front pair. If you notice more wear on one side or at the edges, mention it when you ask for a quote because it can point to an alignment problem.

• Faster wear on the driven wheels
• Scuffed shoulders from tight turns
• Kerb marks on the sidewall

Is my tread legal, and what else should I check?

The legal minimum tread depth for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tyre, all the way around. Use a tread depth gauge if you have one; if not, we can measure it.

Do not stop at tread. Look closely at the sidewalls for bulges, cuts or splits, which can happen from scraping the harbour kerbs. A tyre with any of those should not stay on the car.

Can you fix a puncture picked up near the harbour?

Often, yes. A hole in the main tread from a nail, screw or similar can usually be repaired from the inside once the tyre is off the wheel. Holes near the edge of the tread, or in the sidewall, cannot be repaired safely.

If you have been driving on a flat or very soft tyre, say so. The internal damage can make a repair unsafe even if the puncture itself looks small.

Why is alignment and balancing worth doing with new tyres?

New tyres on wheels that are out of line wear unevenly and quickly. If the car drifts, if the steering wheel is not straight when you drive straight, or if the tyre edges are worn smooth, alignment is the first thing to check.

Balancing puts the weight right around each wheel. Vibration through the steering wheel at moderate speeds is the classic sign of a wheel that needs it.

Do you cover Brixham, and how do I ask for a quote?

Brixham drivers, along with those from Churston, Paignton, Dartmouth and the wider Torbay area, bring cars to Automaster at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL. The garage is near Totnes rather than in Brixham.

When you ask for a quote, give us your registration, the tyre size from the sidewall, how many tyres you want, and any symptoms such as pulling or vibration.