Tyre Information

Whenever you request a tyre quotation from Spires Mobile Tyres, the price we quote includes valve, wheel balance, tyre disposal, fitting and VAT. There are NO hidden costs.

Section 1 Do you know...

Excellent tyre condition is vital as it is the only point of contact with the road. Poor tyre quality could lead to endangering yourself, your passengers, as well as other road users or pedestrians.

Spires Mobile Tyres recommends that tyre pressures and condition of tyres should be checked at least once a month. You can lose up to 4psi over a month so over 2 months you will be shortening your tyres life and increasing your fuel consumption.

Please refer to your car manual or inside fuel cap or drivers door for information on the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle.

If you are unsure and think your tyres may require replacing, please feel free to ring our team and when one of our fitters is in your area, we will arrange for them to come and check this for you free of charge.

Section 2 Why should you check your tyres?

The legal minimum tread depth on a tyre is 1.6mm. If your vehicle has illegal tyres, this will invalidate your insurance, gain points on your licence and you may even receive a fine.

Worn tyres significantly affect the performance of your car and increase your fuel consumption. They also reduce the effectiveness of your steering and acceleration, increase your braking distance and alter the handling and grip of your vehicle, making your vehicle less safe.

Section 3 What should you check?

The Tyre Industry Council has devised a five point tyre check:

  • Check overall conditions of tyres, including outer and inner sidewalls
  • Check tyre tread depth
  • Check all tyre pressures
  • Check signs of irregular wear, i.e. alignment
  • Check and examine the spare tyre

Section 4 What The Spires Mobile Tyres Team need to know...

Tyre letters and numbersLook on the side wall of your tyre for:

If you own a commercial vehicle, mpv, 4x4 or a large estate look out for a load rating. The marking will be R/F or X/L or C markings.

Please advise the Spires Mobile Tyres Team if your vehicle has special requirements such as any of the following:

  • Extra Load requirement (i.e people carriers etc)
  • Certain vehicles require special fitments (i.e Mercedes/Jaguar)
  • Runflat tyres – if your tyre has a side wall marking ‘dsst’ ‘zp’ ‘rft’ ‘sssr’ or some other markings, this means it is a runflat tyre. Although the tyre sizes are the same as traditional tyres they should not be mixed.

Many new cars come fitted as standard with LOCKING WHEELNUTS*

Important

*To remove your wheels PLEASE make sure you have the LOCKING KEY with you. Although we do not charge for our fitting service if we are unable to change your tyres due to NO LOCKING KEY, a call out charge will apply.

Section 5 What we actually do when replacing your tyre?

When the Spires Mobile Tyres Team come to you at home or work, we not only fit the tyre/s you ordered but the following is also carried out

  1. Remove old tyre and dispose of in an environmentally friendly way
  2. Valve Replacement
  3. Clean the inside edge of the rims of old residue and rust
  4. Fit new tyre
  5. Inflate tyre to correct pressure
  6. Rebalance wheel of tyre fitted
  7. Refit wheel

In addition to the above, we also check the condition of the other tyres and ensure the tyres are correctly inflated to the correct tyre pressure. Both of these services are provided at no additional cost to the customer.

Information about Brakes

Everyone knows that your braking system is what stops your car safely and that good brakes are an essential item to any vehicle. At Spires Mobile Tyres we know how important the regular inspection and maintenance of your brakes can be.

Your vehicle’s braking systems involve many different components working together complexly to help you to stop and manoeuvre your vehicle in a controlled and safe manner. The key components of your vehicle consist of:

  • braking system include a master cylinder
  • servo
  • brake callipers
  • brake fluid & cylinders
  • disks, drums, pads and shoes.

All the components are linked by a series of brake hoses and brake pipes containing brake fluid, so when you press your brake pedal the vehicle slows down and eventually stops. The rate at which your brakes reduce the speed your vehicle is travelling is determined by the amount and length of pressure that is applied to the brake pedal, as well as taking into account the condition of your braking system. If you system is in poor condition it will of course take longer to stop than a good working order system.

Section 1 What happens when I push my brake pedal?

The brake pedal is connected to the master cylinder located within the engine compartment. The cylinder is filled with brake fluid.

When you push down the brake pedal, hydraulic pressure is created in the master cylinder, brake fluid is pressurised along a series of brake pipes and hoses to the hydraulically activated pistons in each wheel's hub assembly that force the friction material on your pads or shoes on to rotating parts, and that is what stops your car.

Section 2 What do I need to know about brakes?

The purpose of a braking system is to slow and stop your vehicle safely. It is controlled by a foot (service brake) pedal and by a hand or parking brake. The brakes also allow you to make an emergency stop if you need to. It is therefore important that you ensure that your braking system is maintained properly. Not only is important from a safety point of view for you and your passengers but it is also a legal requirement that your braking system performs as intended.

Section 3 How do brakes wear differently?

Everyone’s brakes may wear differently as every driver has their own way of driving and different driving patterns in addition to how regularly you have your brakes services. For example, a set of brake pads could last up to 50,000 miles or more on a car driven mostly on the motorway, where the same vehicle driven in the centre of a busy city may only last 20,000 miles or less.

Brake Discs especially on the front normally wear out before rear brakes because they have more work to do as they handle more of the braking load. It is often recommended that brake pads should be replaced if the pad friction material has worn down to a thickness of 3 millimetres. Brake disc thickness should be measured and replaced if they measure at or below the manufacturer's safe minimum thickness specification (please refer to the Owners manual). If you are unsure, please feel free to contact the Spires Mobile Tyres team for advice or guidance.

Section 4 Why should Brakes be maintained?

Maintaining an effective vehicle braking system should be on the top of every motorist’s list of priorities and the welfare of their passengers.

Regular brake checks can identify a problem before it begins to have an impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of your brakes. Worn brakes take longer to stop your vehicle and incorrectly adjusted braking systems can lead to increased fuel consumption, which may be costing you more.

Like all components, brakes and their performance deteriorate over time and because it happens gradually, many people don't notice the difference in their braking system. By having your brakes checked regularly you could save time and money by preventing damage to other components.

Section 5 How do I know if my Brakes require replacing?

Routine checks you can do yourself including testing the pedal to see how far you have to press it down before it engages. If you do this regularly you should be able to notice any changes that occur. You may also start to hear a grinding noise, which generally means the brake pads are worn and will require replacing. All of the above are signs that you need to get them fixed long before they become a real danger. Alternatively, please feel free to contact us and we will happily come and take a look at them for you.

Section 6 Benefits of good working order Brakes

  • Cost effectively reduces your cars stopping ability
  • Less brake dust making your wheels easier to clean
  • Safety of you and your passengers, which is irreplaceable
  • Prevents any further damage to your cars braking system or other components if checked and in good shape
  • Avoid being fined for using a vehicle with defective brakes

Section 7 Brake Fluid Change

As well as the condition of your Brakes, you should check your brake fluid. Check your brake master cylinder and clutch cylinder. When you have located them from consulting your owner’s manual, you should find a "max" and "min" line on the reservoir. Fluid should be even with the "max" level line on both. If the level is too low, you can use a clean rag to wipe the top of the reservoir which will prevent contamination of the brake or clutch system. Your owner’s manual should inform you which fluid is the best to use.

Please bear in mind that brake fluid can be dangerous so when using please ensure you use the utmost caution and follow the instructions carefully.

Servicing Information

Looking after your car isn't exactly rocket science, although some people may find it daunting. Give your car a bit of tender loving care and not only will you save money, but it will keep you and your family safer too.

Section 1 Why Service your car regularly?

Your car is a complex machine that needs regular adjustment, lubrication and replacement of worn parts to ensure it runs smoothly and safely. The engineers who designed and built your car determine how often it should be serviced – this is the minimum requirement to keep it ticking over reliably. Please refer to your user manual for information on this.

Service intervals are normally measured in miles or time, whichever comes first. Cars that are exposed to extreme conditions – which includes regular short city drives – should have more regular services.

If you own a car less than five years old, Spires Mobile Tyres recommends you follow the service schedule outlined in your owner’s manual. For older cars, you need to have at least an oil and filter change every 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Section 2 The Benefits of a Regular Service

  • Helps prolongs the life of your engine.
  • Helps maintain roadworthiness, essential for registering your car each year after it is four years old.
  • Lessens the chance of inconvenient breakdowns.
  • Reduces fuel consumption, saving you money on fuel.
  • Avoid expensive repairs. If you let a small problem get worse, you could face a large bill as failure of one part can have a flow on effect and cause damage to other parts of your vehicle or other systems.

Section 3 What Spires Mobile Tyres do at a Car Service?

We offer three types of servicing:

  1. Full Service
  2. Intermediate Service
  3. Oil and Filter Change

Full Service

This is the most comprehensive service and our team adhere to a 50 point check sheet, which you will receive a copy of for your records. We also stamp each customers service record book after the work has been completed

Intermediate Service

With this type of service you will have an oil and filter change, have the general condition of the engine checked and also check your wheels and tyres. We also check the condition of, and top up or replace, if necessary all fluids such as brake and coolant, as these can thicken or breakdown in quality as a result of age, heat and contaminants.

Oil and Filter Change

This type of service is literally an Oil and Filter change.

Puncture Repairs

Can you do a mobile tyre repair?

Yes we can as all our vans are equipped with puncture repair facilities. You can also come into the Depot at anytime or call our Team on 01993 779792 should you think you have a puncture

Can my puncture be repaired and if not how can you help?

Most probably, yes. If the puncture is in the shoulder or side-wall of the tyre it cannot be repaired but if this is the case our technician will show and explain this to you. If the puncture is non repairable, one of the team will fit your spare wheel for you, as we value our customers too much to leave them stranded. Then we would quote you for a new tyre and if you were happy with the price, order and fit one the following working day for you

What is the cost of a puncture repair?

The charge for repairing a puncture is £25 per tyre inc VAT if you use our Mobile Service, which covers Oxfordshire. Alternatively £15 per tyre inc VAT if you want to call into our Depot in Witney.