Here’s a question that comes up fairly often when buying new tyres: are you allowed to fit any tyre to your car if it has the same diameter as the rims? The answer is no; the process is a bit more complicated than that. First, you have to find out if they have tyre approval.
That’s because not every tyre is permissible for use with every car. To maintain vehicle safety and performance – and to spare your wallet from any unnecessary expenses down the road – tyre approval is a necessary step in the purchase process.
Tyre approval is a document that clearly explains whether a new set of tyres is permissible for use with your car. It is sometimes also known as a clearance certificate.
Where can you find existing tyre approval details? This information is already in your vehicle registration documentation. The codes listed here will outline the correct sizes and rims for use on your car.
If the dimensions of the prospective new tyre, like size and rims, aren’t present in your vehicle’s documentation, you cannot fit them until a clearance certificate has been issued. This certificate can come from the vehicle manufacturer, tyre manufacturer or an approved test centre.
To make the process as speedy as possible, it’s a good idea to contact your local tyre retailer with the following information from your vehicle documentation:
Once again, do make sure your new tyres are compatible with your vehicle and approved for use within the parameters given above. For your safety and satisfaction, it’s vital to fit your car with approved tyres.
