Tyres

Free tyre check

Ulster Tyres will give you a free tyre check, without appointment. Just call in to us at your convenience for that extra peace of mind.

Choosing Tyres
Sidewall Information
Watch Your Tread
Keep the Pressure
Professional Tyre Fitting
Tyre Tips
Tyre Recycling

Choosing Tyres

When considering what type of tyres you need to purchase for your vehicle, consider factors such as brand, safety, performance, price, comfort and appearance. Ulster Tyres can advise you on the best tyres for your vehicle.

There are 2 types of tyres: radial-ply or cross-ply (diagonal).

Radial tyres may either be steel or textile-braced, and are identified by the letter R in the size marking. Cross-ply tyres are marked with a hyphen instead of the letter.

Do Not Mix Tyres . It is dangerous to mix radial and cross-ply tyres on the same vehicle.

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Sidewall Information

On the side of a tyre there are legal markings to help you identify the tyre's type and size information. The markings are required by Government and European legislation and are made up of a sequence of different numbers and letters.

For example tyre size 255/45 R 17 82 H is made up of the following information:

255	The tyre section width in millimetres
45	The aspect ratio in % (the height of the sidewall divided by the tyre's width)
R	Denotes the tyre's construction type - in this case it's a radial.
17	Rim diameter in inches
82	Load Index. Indicates the maximum load capacity per tyre.
H	Speed Rating. In this case 210 km/h

Below the size information on the tyre you will also see a 4 digit date e.g. 4807. This is the Production date code in the form of week, year (i.e. 48th week in 2007)

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Watch your Tread

The tread on a tyre is specifically designed to help give a good grip to the road surface in wet weather conditions. Even with good tread on your tyres it is advisable to take account of wet weather conditions and reduce speed accordingly.

The effectiveness of the tyres to grip in wet weather conditions decreases as tyre tread patterns wear down or as there is more surface wear of the tyre. The legal limit of tread depth for car tyres in Ireland is at least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band comprising the central three quarters of the breadth of tread and round the entire outer circumference of the tyre.

Most car tyres have tread wear indicators in the tread grooves which will become visible when the tyre is worn to 1.6mm remaining tread. Tread wear indicators are bars made of hard rubber lying crossways across the tread. You can't see them on new tires, but as the tread wears down, they become visible. This should be taken as a sign that the tyre is ready for replacement.

Keep the Pressure

There are three main reasons why maintaining the right tyre pressure is important:

To maintain balanced braking
To give maximum road grip
To prolong the life of the tyre

Check tyre pressures regularly, including the spare. Pressures should be checked cold, as there is an increase when the tyre has warmed up after being driven. Use your vehicle handbook, or speak to a member of the Ulster Tyre Company team, to confirm the recommended tyre pressure which will vary according to the speed and load of your vehicle.

Under-Inflation

Prolonged under-inflation causes rapid wear on the outer edges of the tyre, over flexing and deteroriation of the casing. A 20% drop in tyre pressure can reduce the life of the tyre by 15% and increase fuel consumption by 3%.

Over-Inflation

Over-inflation results in an less grip and stability when driving due to less contact area with the road. It will also lead to uneven wear on the tyre and to a uncomfortable and bumpy drive.

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Professional Tyre Fitting

At Ulster Tyres we are capable of handling the latest generation of tyres, including wide stiff and low profile tyres. We can fit the most difficult tyres without the risk of damage to your wheels.

Only a tyre specialist with the required equipment and expertise should fit your tyres. Incorrect fitting can result in damage to the wheel and tyre or even danger to the vehicle and passengers. Always have your Wheels balanced after fitting or replacing tyres.

Tyre Safety

Avoid driving over obstructions, such as kerbs or pot holes in the road, even at low speed, as this can lead to damage and weakening of the tyre.

If you have driven a vehicle with a tyre that has been very much under-inflated or flat, it is dangerous to re-inflate that tyre it should be removed and examined by a tyre specialist before re-use.

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Tyre Tips

What should you check?

Check overall condition of tyres, including inner and outer sidewalls
Check all tyre pressures
Check tyre tread depth
Check signs of irregular wear which could indicate poor wheel alignment
Check and examine the spare tyre

Tyre pressure should be checked every couple of weeks and should only be checked when the tyre is cold, before running your vehicle, since the pressure increases when the tyre has warmed up. Use a reliable pressure gauge.

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Tyre Recycling

When you buy new tyres from the Ulster Tyre Company we can take your old tyres off you and make sure that the old tyres are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

Waste tyres can be put to many beneficial uses. Crumb obtained from recycled tyres has many uses, e.g. in playgrounds, as equine bedding or on football pitches. Steel can be recovered from recycled tyres and provide a valuable resource. Tyres can also be retreaded. A retreaded truck tyre requires only 33 per cent of the oil utilised in manufacturing a new one giving a saving of up to 56 litres each time a truck tyre is retreaded. There are also genuine reuses - such as by farmers to anchor silage covers and at marinas as boat fenders.
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