Knowing when to replace your car tyres is essential to the performance of your vehicle. Additionally, worn or bad tyres can put your safety at risk as well as the efficiency of your vehicle. Tyres that are worn and damaged will reduce gas mileage of your vehicle, as well cause other, more serious issues. The average tyre is created in order to provide consistent performance during its entire lifetime. However, when a tyre is worn it can lose traction and braking ability, which can put your safety at further risk. Follow these guidelines to determine when you should replace the tyres on your vehicle and keep you and your family safe.
The first step in knowing if your tyres need replacing is to understand their main purpose. A tyre is designed with certain amounts of tread, dependent on size and manufacturer, which is essential in diverting water and improving traction of your vehicle. Also, the tread that is present on your tyre prevents hydroplaning on wet roads. When a tyres tread is worn it prevents the safety abilities that it was designed for and is the first tell-tale sign your tyres should be replaced.
There are specific ways you can determine if a tyre needs replacing. When you take your vehicle to a garage they will use a tread depth gauge. However, even to the naked eye it will be evident when your tread has been reduced due to wear and tear. Also, there are certain standards that must be met in some areas, therefore keeping up with your tyre wear is essential for safety, as well as legal reasons.
Another important maintenance tip is to note any irregular or uneven wear to your tyres. In many cases this can mean misaligned tyres or the need for tyre rotation. If you notice uneven wear on your tyres it is a red flag that you should seek service on your vehicle immediately. If a vehicle is driven on tyres that are showing irregular wear it can reduce the life of the tyre by a substantial amount.
For most vehicles, it is recommended that you replace your tyres at least every six years, with 10 being the maximum amount of time. This is for tyres that show no unusual wear and preform as they should. If you purchase a vehicle, or suspect for any reason, that the tyres are more that six years old, we recommend that you should replace them before your safety is put at risk.