Your A to Z of motoring gobbledygook
Torque
This is the force from the engine at a given rpm, and the ability to move weight a certain distance, therefore measured in lb ft. Also known as pulling power. Torque is often more relevant when assessing a car than outright power, because you need to know how well a car can pull away from standing, climb a hill or accelerate past a slower vehicle.
Tread separation
The process where a tyre that is faulty, or has been run under-inflated, may break down, causing its tread layer to become separated from the casing.
Tread
Your tyres have grooves moulded into them to help them grip the road, and the tread is the area which actually touches the road. Tread depth is the depth of the grooves. Legally, the tread must have a depth of at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference. If the tread is allowed to wear down further than this, the tyres will not be able to grip effectively, and you could suffer a skid leading to an accident, especially in the wet.
Trim level
This indicates the level of equipment which comes with the car. The trim level is usually indicated by several letters such as LX or GLX. The higher the trim level, the more equipment will be included in the price.
Turning circle
The distance a car travels to complete a full circle with the steering wheel at full lock. Two different measurements can be quoted, either between kerbs, which looks at the distance travelled by the wheels, or between walls, which considers the width of the whole car.
Tyre Pressure
Tyre pressure is the measurement of the volume of air inside the tyre when it is inflated. Formally measured in pounds per square inch (psi) now measured in bar. (1 bar = 14.503774 psi). Pressure will gradually reduce and therefore regular checking and topping-up is necessary to maintain the vehicle manufacturers recommended pressure. (See vehicle owners manual). Never inflate a tyre to a greater pressure than the maximum that is indicated on the sidewall of the tyre.
