Before you set off on a long drive, your tyres deserve a proper inspection. This quick checklist could prevent a breakdown or accident on the road.
The 5-Minute Tyre Check That Could Save Your Holiday
Before any journey of more than an hour, taking five minutes to inspect your tyres is one of the most valuable things you can do as a driver. The majority of breakdowns and a significant proportion of serious accidents on UK roads involve tyre-related issues that could have been identified and prevented with a simple pre-journey check. Here is the quick routine we recommend to all our customers in Northamptonshire and beyond.
Check tyre pressures. Use a reliable pressure gauge and check all four tyres (and the spare if you have one) against the manufacturer's recommended pressures. Do this before driving, when tyres are cold. If any tyre is more than 5 PSI below the recommended pressure, investigate before setting off — it may indicate a slow puncture. Ensure you also check the spare wheel if your vehicle has one; a spare that has sat uninflated for months will be useless when you need it most.
Tread, Condition, and Visual Inspection
Check tread depth. Use a 20p coin or a dedicated tread depth gauge to check that all four tyres have at least 2–3mm of tread remaining. The legal minimum is 1.6mm, but for a long motorway journey — especially if wet weather is forecast — we strongly recommend not driving on anything below 2mm.
Visual inspection. Walk around your vehicle and look closely at each tyre for cuts, bulges, cracks in the sidewall, or foreign objects embedded in the tread such as nails or screws. A nail in the tread does not always cause immediate deflation — sometimes it acts as a plug — but it must be addressed before driving long distances. If you spot anything concerning, call Just Mobile Tyres on 07855 123 711. We can often arrange a same-morning appointment to assess and resolve the issue before you set off, keeping your journey safe and stress-free.
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