When And Why Should You Change Your Tyres

Do you know when to replace your tyres? There are various ways to tell when your tyres need to be replaced, and it’s important to keep an eye on the condition of your tyres and make regular checks to ensure they are roadworthy.

When You Should Change Your Tyres

There are many things that can damage them, this includes the road, kerbs, potholes or sharp objects. You should make sure you change your tyres if they become damaged because this will affect your safety.

Over time, your tyres will become worn down, aged and the tyre tread will decrease, once it has hit the point where it’s below 1.6mm, tyres become dangerous to drive on.

It’s not rare that tyres get punctures – unfortunately this will happen from time to time. It’s imperative you change your tyre if it has a puncture. Often, you can just repair a puncture; but sometimes you’ll have to resort to purchasing new tyres. You should see a car mobile mechanic to determine your outcome.

Sometimes, tyres become abnormally worn for a variety of different reasons. This could indicate suspension misalignment, under-inflated tyres or over-inflated tyres. They can become abnormally worn in patches, in the centre and even at the edges. You should make sure you contact a car service specialist if you notice any abnormal wear as this is a red sign that you should replace the tyre.

Why You Should Change Your Tyres

When you get a puncture, you must have your tyre repaired by a car service specialist so that the tyre meets the current legal standards. It is an offence to drive your car on a punctured tyre, so it is important to check regularly.

Car tyres’ treads below I.6mm are illegal. This is easily done either with a tyre gauge or the simple 20p test. All you do is insert a 20p into the treads on your car tyres, and if you can see any of the raised rim on the coin, your tyre is illegal. You should always check the tyre tread at several points around the tyre’s circumference.

A startling amount of road accidents are due to illegal tyres, since they provide much less grip, stability, precision handling and stopping power and make you more prone to skidding or aquaplaning.

The penalty for a single illegal tyre is 3 points on your license and fine of up to £2,500. That’s PER tyre – so it’s worth making sure you have a decent set on your vehicle to avoid being penalised. To find out more about the law click here.

Its also important for your own safety. Driving your car on your worn out tyre would lead to an accident. So replacing this tyre can help to reduce the risk for you and to other road users.

Consequently, under or over-inflated tyres will affect the smoothness of your ride, your handling, fuel efficiency and even cause blowouts.

Conclusion

Tyres are an expensive part of car maintenance and you want to get as much mileage as possible out of them before you have to replace them. However, do a monthly check of your wheels and tyres as a matter of routine. Not only will you become very familiar with your tyres, but you will be able to see anything amiss before it becomes a major problem.

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