Tyre Fitting in Hexworth

Hexworth is a small rural hamlet in Dartmoor-edge country, reached by narrow lanes. Our garage, Automaster, is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the surrounding countryside and nearby named towns such as Heathfield and Liverton come to us for tyre work.

Lane driving brings its own tyre problems, from stones and thorn cuttings to scuffed sidewalls and kerb strikes at tight bends. Here is what to check on your own car and what we can do about it.

What should I check on a lane-driven car?

Walk around the car and look at each sidewall. Scuffs are common on narrow lanes, but cuts, bulges and cracks are not something to live with. Then check the tread across its full width with a depth gauge, remembering that the legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread.

Also check pressures when the tyres are cold. A tyre running soft on rough surfaces is more likely to be pinched and damaged, and it wears faster on the shoulders.

• Sidewall condition
• Tread depth across the width
• Cold pressures
• Stones or thorns in the tread

Is a thorn or flint puncture repairable?

A small hole in the central tread can usually be repaired from the inside once the tyre has been taken off the wheel and examined. A cut at the shoulder or in the sidewall cannot be repaired, because those areas flex constantly and a patch will not hold safely.

If the tyre has been driven flat, internal damage is likely even if the hole is small. We look at the inside of the tyre before saying whether a repair is possible.

Why would a rural car need wheel alignment?

Rough lanes, the odd pothole and the occasional clip of a bank can knock the wheel angles out. Signs include pulling to one side, a steering wheel that is not straight when you drive straight, and the edges of the tyres wearing faster than the middle.

Tracking adjusts the angles where the vehicle allows. It will not cure worn suspension parts, and if we find those we will tell you.

Do I need balancing as well?

Balancing is a separate job. It is needed whenever a new tyre is fitted, and again if you feel vibration at speed. A wheel that has lost a balance weight, or been bent on a bad stretch of lane, can also cause it.

Mention any vibration through the steering wheel or the seat when you ask for a quote, and the speed it appears at.

Do you cover Hexworth, and where do I bring the car?

Yes. We are at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from Hexworth, Heathfield, Liverton, Bickington and Caton bring their cars to us. When you ask for a quote, please give the make, model and year, plus the tyre size from the sidewall.

If it is a puncture, tell us what happened and whether the car was driven on the flat tyre, as that affects what can be done.