Tyre Fitting in South Knighton

South Knighton is a small rural hamlet on country lanes in the Newton Abbot area. Automaster is at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and drivers from the hamlet and from nearby Newton Abbot, Heathfield, Liverton and Abbotskerswell come to us.

A second car or a lightly used runabout is common in the countryside, and cars that sit between trips have their own tyre problems. This page covers those, plus the usual tyre checks.

Do tyres suffer when a car sits unused?

Yes. Pressure drops slowly, and a tyre left under load in one position can develop a flat spot that causes vibration when you set off. Damp and sunlight age the rubber too. If the car has not moved for weeks, check pressures and sidewalls before you drive.

A tyre with good tread can still be old, so look at the date code rather than trusting the grooves alone.

How do I check tread and sidewalls?

Use a depth gauge across the central three quarters of the tread, where the legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm. Do it at several points on each tyre, because wear is rarely even. Then run your eye and hand around each sidewall.

Any bulge means internal damage and the tyre should not be driven on. Cuts and cracks deserve a professional look.

• Gauge readings at three points
• Sidewall inspection
• Date code
• Cold pressure

Can my puncture be fixed?

A small hole in the central tread is often repairable from inside once the tyre is off the wheel and checked. Damage at the shoulder or in the sidewall is not repairable, and a tyre driven flat for any distance may be beyond saving.

We examine the tyre inside and out before giving an answer.

What do alignment and balancing actually do?

Alignment, or tracking, sets the angles of the wheels so the car runs straight and the tyres wear evenly. Balancing evens out the weight around the wheel and tyre so it spins smoothly and does not shake the steering.

Both can come up after new tyres are fitted, or after a kerb knock on a narrow lane.

Do you cover South Knighton, and how do I get a quote?

Yes. Bring the car to Longcombe Cross near Totnes. When you ask for a quote, give us the make, model, year and tyre size and describe any symptoms such as pulling or vibration.

If it is a set of tyres, say whether the car is mostly used locally or for longer trips, and whether it sits for long spells.

Photographs of the tread or sidewall are not a substitute for a proper look, but a clear description of what you have seen helps us plan the job.