Auto Trader Blog

What’s the most important part of your car?

Give yourself a pat on the back if your answer was ‘tyres’.

They are the only part of your car in contact with the road, so it doesn’t matter if you own a Fiat or a Ferrari – it will only ever be as good as the quality of its tyres.

Yet 80 per cent of people have no idea what the numbers and symbols on the side of a tyre mean or even when its time to buy a fresh set.

Read our guide to tyre care and changing a tyre here

If you need to buy new tyres:

• Make a note of the information on the sidewall and use it to order tyres of the same type online with Auto Trader’s Tyre Centre, or at a garage
• It’s always advisable to fit tyres of the same tread depth, make and model on each corner of the car. Mismatched tyres with different grip levels will affect the cars handling and safety
• Always have tyres fitted by a professional

Look after your tyres and your tyres will look after you. Inspect them at least one per month and after driving through bad pot holes or rubbing them against a kerb.

If they are low on tread, torn or cracked, order new tyres or seek advice from a professional tyre fitter.

Visit the Auto Trader Tyre Centre to buy new tyres and for advice on tyre care

Have you had any good or bad tyre experiences?