Tyre Fitting in Ermington

Ermington is a South Hams village in the River Erme valley, reached by narrow country roads. Many drivers here commute towards Ivybridge and Plymouth, so tyres cope with tight lanes in the morning and faster roads after.

Automaster, at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, fits new tyres, repairs suitable punctures, and sets wheel alignment and balance. This page covers what to check and what to tell us.

What do country lanes and commuter roads do to tyres?

Narrow lanes mean verge and kerb contact, loose chippings and debris. Faster commuter roads mean sustained load and heat. Together they can cause cuts, punctures and uneven wear.

A look at your tyres once a month, and always before a long trip, gives you a good chance of spotting trouble early.

Mud, wet leaves and loose stones make lane surfaces unpredictable in the valley, so good tread matters. Do not wait until the legal limit; grip falls away before that.

How do I read the tread and sidewalls?

The legal tread minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread. Smooth patches, one-sided wear and visible wear bars all signal that replacement is near.

On the sidewall, look for bulges, splits and cuts. A tyre showing any of those should be inspected right away.

Check the inner edge of each front tyre as well as the outer. Alignment problems often wear the inside edge, where you cannot see it without turning the steering to full lock.

• Tread depth and evenness
• Sidewall cuts and bulges
• Age cracking
• Objects in the tread

When can a puncture be repaired?

A hole in the central tread is often repairable once the tyre has been taken off and checked inside. Sidewall damage cannot be repaired, and a tyre driven on while flat can be unsafe even if it looks all right.

If you are unsure, bring the car in without driving it far on the tyre and we will advise.

If you have driven on a tyre while it was flat, tell us. That detail affects whether a repair is safe, and we would rather know than guess.

Where do Ermington drivers bring the car?

The garage is at Longcombe Cross, Longcombe, Totnes TQ9 6PL. Drivers from Ermington come to us, as do those from Ivybridge, Modbury, South Brent and Kingston.

If you think you need alignment or balancing as well as a tyre, mention it when you ask.

Commuters heading for Ivybridge and Plymouth cover steady mileage, so tyres on those cars often wear evenly but quickly. A regular look at tread depth saves surprises.

What do I need for a quote?

The tyre size, your registration, the number of tyres and the symptoms. The speed and load rating of your vehicle, plus whether alignment or balancing is included, shape what we quote.

Ask for a quote and we can talk it through.

Matching tyres on one axle matters for steady handling on wet valley roads. If you only need one tyre, tell us the condition of its partner and we can discuss what suits.