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Keeping your tyres in good condition is absolutely essential when it comes to road safety. From making sure your tyre tread is deep enough to give you the traction your car needs to grip the road, to being confident that you’re not unknowingly driving on a tyre that’s close to blowing, a quick tyre inspection can make a huge difference – as long as you know what you’re looking for.
Discover the things to watch out for when you’re checking your tyres in our handy guide.
The following are signs that your tyres need to be replaced, so be sure to add them to your checklist when you’re inspecting them.
The tread is the patterning on the surface of your tyre that helps it grip the road. Brand new tyres tend to have a tread of around 8mm. However, this reduces through normal wear and tear as you drive around. As your tread reduces, so does your tyre’s ability to grip the road – so it’s very important that you keep an eye on how worn it is.
In the UK, you’re legally obliged to make sure your tyre tread doesn’t dip below 1.6mm and it is wise to ensure your tyres are replaced before they hit this limit. One handy way to check the tread on your tyres at home is with the help of a 20 pence piece.
Take your 20p and place it in the main grooves of the tyre at various different points. If you can still see the outer band of the coin’s face when the edge is pressed into the tread, it means they are too shallow and your tyres are in need of proper inspection and replacement.
Other important things to look out for are any signs of bulging or cracking. These can indicate that the tyre is worn out and that the rubber is too thin or damaged. These issues can be exacerbated by colder weather and can leave you susceptible to a puncture or blow out, so it’s important to replace tyres when there are visible signs of swelling or cracking.
It’s also essential to keep an eye on the air pressure in your tyres, as pressure that is either too high or too low can make your car harder to handle and contribute to increased wear and tear. Tyre pressure can also be affected by sudden changes in weather, so checking should be part of your regular maintenance routine.
You can do it yourself with a tyre pressure gauge. All you need to do is apply the gauge to the valve on the wheel rim (after removing the dust cap). Your car may also have a tyre pressure monitoring system and if a TPMS light shows up on your dashboard, you need to check the pressure right away.
Looking after your tyres can help them last longer while checking for issues can keep you safer on the road. Want to make sure your car is in good shape? Book a regular servicing with Eastern Western and our skilled engineers will check your tyres and much more.
8 Westerton Road, East Mains Industrial Estate, Broxburn
West Lothian EH52 5AU
Calls may be monitored for quality and training purposes. Eastern Western Motor Group Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities under reference number 310505 – we are a credit broker not a lender. Registered Office: 8 Westerton Road, East Mains Industrial Estate, Broxburn West Lothian EH52 5AU Registered in Scotland No. 38211. VAT Registration No. 269233051.
We work with a number of carefully selected credit providers who may be able to offer you finance for your purchase. We are only able to offer finance products from these providers.