Tyre Fitting in Caton

Caton is a small rural hamlet on the Dartmoor edge near the A38. Our garage is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Caton and nearby places such as Bickington and Buckfastleigh come to Automaster for tyres and wheel work.

A car here might do short trips on quiet lanes one day and a faster run along the A38 the next. That mix is a good reason to check tyre condition before a longer drive, and this page explains what to look at.

Are my tyres ready for a faster main-road run?

Speed generates heat in a tyre, and tyres that are soft, old or damaged cope badly with it. Check pressures when cold, look over the sidewalls, and measure the tread. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread.

Do the check before the journey, not at the side of the road. Use the pressures given for your vehicle in the handbook or on the door pillar, and ask us if you are carrying a heavy load.

• Cold pressures
• Tread depth
• Sidewall bulges or cuts
• Date code

How can I tell if a tyre is too old?

Look for the four-digit code moulded into the sidewall. The first two digits are the week and the last two the year. Tyres on cars that cover few miles can age out well before the tread wears.

Cracking in the sidewall or at the base of the tread grooves is a warning sign, and so is a tyre that feels hard and shiny. If in doubt, have it looked at.

What is involved in repairing a puncture?

The wheel is removed and the tyre taken off the rim so it can be inspected inside and out. A small hole in the central tread can often be repaired from the inside. Sidewall damage cannot be, and a tyre that was driven flat often has hidden damage.

We tell you what we find rather than guess from the outside, and if replacement is the safe answer we say so.

Why does my car vibrate or pull to one side?

Vibration at certain speeds often points to wheel balance. Pulling to one side may be pressure, uneven wear or alignment. Sometimes brakes or suspension are responsible, which is why an inspection comes before any promise.

If steering or braking feels unsafe, stop driving the car and get it looked at.

Do you cover Caton, and what do I tell you?

Yes, drivers from Caton come to our garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, as do those from Pounds Gate, Hexworth, Bickington and Buckfastleigh. When you ask for a quote, give us your vehicle details, the tyre size and any symptoms.

If you want a matched pair or a full set, say so, and tell us how the car is used.