Tyre Fitting in Thurlestone

Thurlestone has a beach, a golf course and a hotel close by, plus narrow lanes that see strong holiday traffic in summer. That mix of residents, visitors and slow driving makes tyre care worth thinking about before the season starts.

Automaster is a garage at Longcombe Cross near Totnes, and we welcome drivers from Thurlestone, Bantham, Kingsbridge, Bigbury and Salcombe. Our work includes MOT testing and servicing as well as fitting tyres and sorting alignment problems.

What should I look for when I inspect my tyres?

Start with tread: the legal minimum is 1.6 mm across the central three quarters of the tread. Then check each sidewall for cuts or bulges, and look at the pattern of wear across the tyre.

Wear down the middle often suggests too much pressure; wear on both edges suggests too little; wear on one edge suggests alignment.

Tyres that are fine in spring can look different after a season of holiday traffic, so it is worth a quick inspection before and after the summer.

• Central wear: over-inflated
• Both edges worn: under-inflated
• One edge worn: check alignment
• Bulges: replace the tyre

Do I need new tyres or just a puncture repair?

If something has gone into the central tread, a proper repair from the inside is often possible and saves a good tyre. Sidewall damage cannot be repaired, and a tyre that has been driven flat may be beyond saving.

Nails and screws are common near building plots and driveways. We inspect the tyre off the wheel before deciding, because the outside rarely tells the whole story.

Why is wheel balancing needed with new tyres?

Every tyre and wheel has slight differences in weight. Balancing adds small weights so the wheel spins smoothly, and it prevents the vibration that otherwise shakes the steering wheel at speed.

Alignment is a separate check. Worn tyre edges, a pull to one side or an off-centre steering wheel mean it is worth asking about tracking as well.

Can I get tyres fitted if I live in or visit Thurlestone?

Yes, drivers from Thurlestone come to us at Longcombe Cross near Totnes. Contact us with your registration and tyre size, and ask for a quote.

If you are staying at the hotel or on holiday nearby and a tyre has failed, say so when you ask. We cannot promise stock or a particular day, but we will tell you what is possible.

What makes a tyre job more or less involved?

Larger wheels and low-profile tyres take more care to fit. Locking wheel nuts, seized wheel bolts or sensors in the wheel can add work. The number of tyres, plus any alignment or balancing, also changes the job.

Because so much depends on the vehicle, we prefer to give a quote once we know the car, the tyre size and what you have noticed.