When it comes to keeping up with the maintenance of your car, it’s easy to overlook your tyres. According to data from GOV.UK, up to 10% of MOT failures are caused by problems related to tyres – including general condition, tyre tread and tyre pressure. But as well as helping you to pass your MOT, maintaining your tyres is crucial for both your safety, and that of other drivers on the road. Driving with worn, bald or low pressure tyres can affect your grip on the road, increase stopping distance and even cause hydroplaning.
Find it hard to tell when to replace your tyres? Check out our expert guidance below, and never drive with unsafe tyres again.
Your tyres need replacing if…
Tread Depth is Less than 1.6mm
The tread on your tyre is designed to maintain contact with the road, particularly in wet conditions or on poor surfaces. Most new tyres will come with around 9mm tread, but regular driving can wear this down after as few as 30,000 miles. In the UK, the legal minimum for tyre tread is 1.6mm – any lower, and your car will fail its MOT, not to mention be unsafe to drive.
Your Tyres Get Damaged
You may not immediately notice, but if your tyres make impact with hard objects in the road, like the kerb or a pothole, they could be seriously damaged. As well as any visible external issues, there could be internal damage, which can only be detected with a thorough tyre check, and not when the tyre is mounted.
It’s worth noting that your tyres will age regardless of how often they are used – so even if you only drive your car occasionally, regular damage checks are a good idea.
You’ve Had a Puncture
While modern tyres are generally fairly durable, the occasional puncture is inevitable. Products like tyre inflators or tyre foam are great for a temporary fix, but you’ll need to get your tyre checked by a professional after a puncture or a flat. You’ll then need to decide whether it can be repaired, or if it should be replaced altogether.
Make Your Tyres Last Longer
There are several precautions you can take to get as many miles out of your tyres as possible, whilst ensuring you stay safe on the road.
• Keep an eye on your tyre pressure. You can do this easily with a tyre pressure sensor – but you should only check your tyres when they’re cold, as hot (or recently used tyres) can give inaccurate readings.
• Drive carefully. It may sound like obvious advice, but avoid colliding with the kerb wherever possible, and take extra care when parking, driving over speedbumps or on badly-surfaced roads.
• Regularly rotate your tyres. By rotating your tyres on a regular basis, you can ensure that they wear out evenly, so each tyre has a similar tread depth. Front tyres should be moved to the rear, but remain on the same sides, whereas rear tyres should be fitted to the front, on the opposite sides.
• Check your wheel alignment. If you drive your car regularly, we recommend you get your tyres aligned every 2 to 3 years. This isn’t especially expensive – and if you’re confident you can do it yourself, you could save hundreds of pounds with our range of wheel alignment tools.
If you take the steps mentioned in this list, good quality tyres could last you up to 10 years, depending on the nature and location of your driving. But don’t forget – as soon as your tread depth reaches below 1.6mm, your tyres are no longer deemed legally safe.
Having trouble with a new set of tyres? Take a look at our article on “Running In” New Car Parts for some guidance on how to safely break in new tyres.