Your vehicle is the first mode of transportation wherever you go. All the parts of your car are critical components, as they keep your vehicle running on the road. One such component is the tyre. Tyres are the unsung heroes that play an essential role in providing safety, performance, and comfort on the road. They bear the weight of your car and provide grip on the road in rain or shine. However, a daily commute can wear out even the toughest tyres you have. That’s why you need to keep an eye on the tyres to ensure safety and performance.
Here are four common signs that might alarm you that it’s time to replace your tyres with new ones.
1. Low Tread Depth: Time for New Tyres
The grip on wet or slippery roads depends only on the tread depth of the tyres. When the depth becomes very low, you may encounter slips on the road, and there might be no proper grip on the road. There are even legal requirements for the tread depth. The legal minimum tread depth is approximately 1.5 to 1.6 mm. You can check the depth by using a tread depth gauge. If it’s below the legal requirement, then you should immediately opt for new tyres. It’s necessary because new tyres provide better handling and safer stops in wet weather.
2. Cracks or Damage on the Tyre Sidewall
The roads in the area you may be living in or travelling to might not be very friendly for your vehicle’s tyres. Roads can be harsh with potholes, gravel, and extreme temperatures. These things contribute to the wear and tear of the tyres, which may result in cracks, cuts, or bulges on the tyre sidewalls. You should inspect the sidewall carefully to identify any damage. If there are any issues, you should seek professional help and consider replacing the tyres if necessary, as these problems can compromise the integrity of the tyres and even compromise your safety.
3. Vibrations & Uneven Tyre Wear
You might be driving on the road and sometimes feel unusual vibrations or shaking through the steering wheel. This may indicate that your car is experiencing a tyre imbalance, misalignment, or uneven wear. You should do a thorough inspection of the tyres to find if there is any uneven wear.
Uneven wear is characterized by uneven wear patterns, such as more wear on the inner or outer edges, which means the tyre isn’t contacting the road properly, thereby affecting handling and safety. If you continue to drive on unevenly worn tyres, it accelerates damage and can lead to sudden failures. So, make sure to check the tyre and change it if the uneven wear is really bad.
4. Your Tyres are Old
In a busy schedule, it’s possible that you may overlook the age of your tyres. Even if the tread depth is in good condition, tyres degrade over time as the rubber hardens and loses flexibility. Tyre experts and manufacturers generally recommend replacing tyres every six years, regardless of tread wear, so that you can prevent any unexpected accident during your drive. You can find the manufacturing date in the DOT code on the sidewall. If the date indicates the tyre is more than 6 years old, you should replace it immediately with a new tyre.
