CAMBRIDGE, England, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- etyres has launched a puncture repair gauge that helps mototrists whose tyres have been damaged by potholes dodge the cost of expensive replacements. The gauge is available to download and print from the etyres website today.

With Britain's roads blighted by a pothole plague following two consecutive harsh winters, motorists are increasingly suffering from punctured tyres.

However, many minor punctures can be repaired for a fraction of the cost of a replacement tyre and motorists can find out if their tyre can be repaired by downloading a puncture repair gauge ( http://www.etyres.co.uk/repairable-area-gauge) from the etyres website.

Tony Bowman, managing director of etyres, said: "The good news is that about half of all flat tyres caused by a puncture can be repaired safely and cheaply without the need for motorists to fork out for a replacement tyre and suffer a big dent in their finances.

"Anyone who drives over a large pothole should give their tyres a thorough inspection as soon as possible.

"The most important thing that they can do to help the chances of the puncture being repairable is not to drive on it when it is flat - driving for even a few hundred metres on a flat tyre can damage it and make it irreparable."

The Repairable Area Tread Gauge can be downloaded and printed out from the etyres website. Vehicle owners can then follow the simple instructions to find out if the puncture is in an area of the tyre tread which is possible to repair.

The 'repairable area' of a tyre is designated as that where a repair can be carried out to British Standards (currently BS AU 159f). Because a tyre curves away from the middle of where the tyre rolls on the road, only the centre area is repairable.

The cost of repairing a puncture can be a fraction of the cost of replacing a premium brand tyre, such as Goodyear tyres, ( http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyres/goodyear/) Continental car tyres (http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyres/continental/) or a 4x4 tyre.

About etyres:

Launched in 1997, etyres is the UK's first online tyres retailer. It operates a mobile fitting service, which means customers can have their tyres (http://www.etyres.co.uk/) fitted at a location of their choice - either at their home or place of work.

Its low overheads mean the price customers pay is always low - up to 40% cheaper than the leading high street tyre depots on a wide range of tyres, from premium to budget brands.

    
    PR Contact
    Denna Bowman
    Lower Court 3
    Copley Hill Innovation Park
    Cambridge Road
    Babraham
    Cambridge
    CB22 3GN
    +44(0)1223-832444
    http://www.etyres.co.uk

SOURCE etyres