Tyre Fitting in Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh sits on the edge of Dartmoor beside the A38, with the heritage steam railway and Buckfast Abbey bringing visitors close by. Climbs, descents and moorland roads are part of everyday driving here, and they ask a lot of tyres.

Automaster fits new tyres, repairs punctures that can safely be repaired, and sets wheel alignment and balance from our garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Below is what we would check and what to tell us.

How do hills and moorland roads wear tyres?

Steep descents mean a lot of braking, and braking loads the front tyres hard. Tight bends and climbs scrub the tread, and rough moorland edges put stones and debris in the path of the tyre. Over time these all add up to faster wear on some tyres than others.

If you notice one edge of a tyre wearing quicker than the rest, or a feathered feel to the tread when you run a hand across it, the cause may be alignment rather than just mileage. That is worth having checked before you buy the next set.

What is the legal tread depth, and when should I act?

The legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread, around the whole tyre. Wet Dartmoor roads and leaf-covered lanes are unforgiving, and stopping distances grow as the tread shrinks, so it makes sense to act before you hit the limit.

Also look for cuts and bulges on the sidewalls. Verge strikes and kerbs are common causes. Any bulge means the tyre should come off the road.

• Tread around the legal limit
• Cuts or bulges in the sidewall
• Cracking on an older tyre
• Uneven wear from edge to edge

Can you repair a puncture picked up on a moorland lane?

A puncture in the central tread can often be repaired once the tyre is off the wheel and inspected inside. A nail, screw or flint-type cut in the tread may be fixable, but a cut near the shoulder or in the sidewall is not.

If a tyre has run flat even for a short distance, the internal structure can be damaged, so a replacement may be the only safe answer. Please do not carry on driving on a flat.

Do you serve Buckfastleigh and the villages around it?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL, and drivers come to us from Buckfastleigh, Buckfast, Holne, South Brent and Totnes.

If you are unsure whether the problem is a tyre, the wheel or something else, tell us what you hear and feel and we will point you to the right job.

What should I say when I ask for a tyre quote?

Quote figures depend on your tyre size, the speed and load rating, the number of tyres and whether balancing or alignment is needed. We would rather ask a few questions than give you a number that does not fit.

Have your registration and the tyre size from the sidewall to hand, and mention any pulling, vibration or leaks.