Tyre Fitting in Salcombe

Salcombe is an estuary resort town with very steep, narrow streets, limited parking and plenty of holiday traffic. Cars here are manoeuvred in tight spaces with kerbs close by, which is a recipe for scuffed sidewalls and knocked alignment.

Automaster is based at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and we look after tyres for drivers in Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Thurlestone, Loddiswell and Bantham. Whether it is a daily runabout or a second car kept for the summer, the advice is the same.

What does kerb damage do to a tyre?

Parking in a tight street, with the sidewall rubbing the kerb, can scuff the rubber or cut into it. A bulge on the sidewall means the inner cords are damaged, and that tyre must be replaced.

Even if nothing is visible, a hard kerb strike can disturb the steering and suspension geometry, which is why we suggest checking tracking after a knock.

When you are parking in a tight space, give the kerb a little more room than feels necessary. Tyres are cheaper to look after than to replace.

Should I worry about wheel alignment in a hilly town?

Steep gradients put heavy loads on tyres and suspension. If alignment is out, the car may pull, the steering wheel may sit off-centre, and the edges of the tyres wear faster than the middle.

A tracking check measures the angles of the wheels and, where the vehicle allows, adjusts them. Some cars need worn parts replaced before a proper setting is possible.

• Pulling to one side
• Off-centre steering wheel
• Fast wear on the edges
• Noise from the tyres

Are Salcombe drivers able to use you for punctures?

Yes. Drivers come to our garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes from Salcombe and nearby. A puncture in the central tread can often be repaired from the inside, while sidewall damage means a new tyre.

Contact us beforehand and give us the details. Summer visitors with a flat tyre should say so when they ask for help.

How do I know when tyres need replacing?

The legal minimum tread is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread, and wet hillside roads call for more. Also check the date code on the sidewall, since old rubber hardens and loses grip.

Tyres on the same axle should match in size and type. If you need only one, the condition of the others will decide whether that is sensible.

What should I say when I request a tyre quote?

Tell us the registration or the make, model and year, the size on the sidewall, and how many tyres you want. Describe any vibration, pulling or pressure loss.

Price varies with tyre size and type, quantity, and whether balancing or alignment is included, so we ask you to contact us for a quote rather than guess.

If you are visiting and the car is not your usual one, check the tyre size on the sidewall before you ask, since it can differ between versions of the same model.