THESE are the five signs that your tyres need to be replaced – and you can use a “20p test” to check the most common one.
Keeping an eye out for the major indicators of tyre trouble could save you quite a bit of money and keep you safe on the roads.
AlamyDrivers should keep an eye out for the five signs that their tyres need replacing[/caption]
The most obvious clues that your tyres are on borrowed time are any visible signs of damage or deterioration.
Always be sure to check the rubber regularly and stay on top of its condition.
In extreme cases, you may be able to see the steel and textile threads that hold the frame of the tyre in shape and keep it stable when in contact with the road.
If you notice any part of your tyre where these thin wires are visible, you must replace it immediately as it has been structurally compromised.
Likewise, any bulge in the rubber suggests a ruptured interior band.
These are often caused by potholes or prolonged driving on poorly maintained roads.
Pressurised air forms a bubble in the tyre’s surface which can blow out if driven on, potentially causing a serious accident.
However, there are other less obvious signs of wear and tear, particularly when it comes to the tread.
These are the indentations in the tyre’s surface that, despite a popular myth, are not actually to do with increasing grip all year round.
The tread is there to filter water off the tyre in wet conditions and prevent skidding.
If it was not there, we would all be driving around on “slick” tyres, similar to those used in F1, which lose virtually all grip in the rain.
It is vital to maintain the tread in order to stay safe and there are two main ways to do this.
First, keep a look out for any uneven wear on the tread, especially if your motor is not four-wheel drive.
The increased stress of braking and turning could cause some tyres or parts of tyres to wear more than others.
To help prevent this, it is important to have your tyres regularly, which can be done by a trusted garage for a small fee.
The intervals at which this should be done can be found in your owner’s manual, but it’s usually every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
Secondly, the Highway Code requires a minimum tread depth on all cars in the UK.
You could end up costing yourself a fair bit of money if you fail an MOT due to poor tread depth, let alone the safety implications.
Thankfully, there is a quick and easy test you can use to check this.
The minimum tread depth is 1.6mm and if you put a 20p piece into the indentation and can still see the outer band of the coin, it is too shallow.
It should be remembered, though, that this is a rough guide to the minimum standard, not a recommended level.
If your tyre falls below that standard it must legally be replaced.
The final two signs are much harder to detect but no less important.
If you find yourself constantly having to pump your tyres back up or if you experience excessive vibration while driving, this can indicate that one of your tyres is faulty or punctured.
In the event that you can’t see the fault, get them examined by a mechanic and remember to have them replaced every 10 years at the latest either way.