When the seasons change, taking good care of your car tyres is as important as ever.
According to data from National Highways, 1 in 5 motorway breakdowns are caused by tyre problems. You’re more likely to encounter issues on the road if you set off with underinflated or damaged tyres. And as winter comes to an end, the risks increase.
Whether you drive a family hatchback or a large SUV, tyre maintenance helps to keep you, your passengers, and other road users safe. Prevention is always the first step, so we’ve outlined 5 tell-tale signs that it’s time for new tyres in this guide.
Tread depth is the distance between the outer surface of your tyre and the inner grooves, which form the patterns known as the tread. In the UK, the law states that tyre tread depth must be at least 1.6mm for safe motoring.
If you’re stopped by the police and your tyres are in poor condition with less than 1.6mm tread depth, you could get a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points per tyre. Luckily, it’s easy to check that you’re within the limits: simply slot a 20p piece into the tread, and if you can’t see the outer border on the coin, your tyres are safe.
Visibly damaged tyres should always be taken seriously. Cracks and bulges can occur over time, most often due to sun exposure and wear and tear. Any tyres are more likely to develop damage if they’re consistently underinflated.
Try to walk around your car every few weeks to keep an eye on the condition of your tyres. Cracks in the outer wall should never be ignored: these occur when the rubber polymers start to break down, and after this point, they only continue to expand.
Even if there’s nothing visibly wrong with your current set, it could still be time to buy new tyres online ready for summer. If you’ve been driving the same tyres for years and you’ve covered tens of thousands of miles, it’s important to make sure you’ve got enough traction.
It’s typically recommended to change your tyres every 5 years, or 30,000 miles – or whichever comes first. Keep an eye on your mileage and make sure you’re practising efficient driving techniques too. These not only help you save money on fuel but may extend and promote the longevity of your tyres.
If holding the steering wheel or controlling the car suddenly feels different, the changes could be explained by the health of your tyres.
Vibrations on the steering wheel could stem from your tyres, but they most often indicate an issue with your wheel balance or alignment. If you leave your car like this for long, it not only puts your car and tyres at greater risk of damage but can be quite distracting too! If your attention or judgement are impaired behind the wheel, driving becomes more dangerous.
Finally, try not to dismiss any new noises you hear coming from your wheels. While these could be related to an array of mechanical parts, including your brakes and suspension, your tyres can make weird noises too.
Squeaky, whining or thumping tyres are crying out for help, so don’t let any of these noises go unnoticed. You might also hear humming noises above certain speeds, which could indicate that your tyres have worn unevenly and need to be rotated or replaced.
