How to Tell if Your Car Tyres are Safe

Your tyres get tired too! Not in the literal sense, however, but wear and tear from driving affects everything, especially if you use your car on a daily basis. According to The AA, you should receive a minimum of 20,000 miles from front tyres on a front-wheel-drive car, and around double that for the rear tyres. However, this all depends on how you use and store your tyres. With no definitive figure available, it can be tricky to judge if your car tyres are safe or if a replacement is in order. That’s where we come in! Our car tyre safety checklist should come in handy if you’re wondering whether to fork out for a new set of wheels. 

Check the Tread Depth

We’re sure you’ve heard this one before, but just in case you haven’t, car tyre tread depth is extremely important. In fact, going below the legal limit could result in a  £2,500 per tyre fine and 3 points per tyre. No one wants that. Going below the tread limit also puts other road users in danger. With a depleted tread depth, your stopping distances are a lot larger, especially in wet conditions. The tread allows water to clear from the tyres. The lesser the tread, the harder that becomes. 

It’s incredibly easy to check the tread depth. Just find a trusty 20p piece and place it into the grooves on your tyre. If you can see the outer band of your coin, your tyres may be unsafe to use. (Pro Tip: It’s always best to check a few points on the tyre, just to be sure.) You can also use a tread depth gauge for an accurate measurement.  

Maintain Recommended Tyre Pressure Levels

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is incredibly important, though many people neglect it! Dragging yourself to the air machine at your local petrol station might seem like a chore, but it is absolutely necessary for the safety of yourself and other road users. It has a huge impact on acceleration and braking, as the sidewalls of the tyres become flexible rather than rigid if the pressure is low. It also hits your finances by increasing the amount that your tyre comes into contact with the road, which increases fuel consumption. 

The opposite can happen too, in that your tyres could have too much air in them. This can impact stopping distances and traction. You should easily find your recommended pressure within the handbook for your car. If you don’t have access to this, it’s sometimes listed on the inside door of your car, or you can search for a tyre pressure tool on the internet. Though it’s important to mention that it’s always best to use the handbook or a figure from a respected source. 

Examine for Cracks and Bulges

The smallest crack, blemish or bulge could impact the performance of a car tyre, even if it doesn’t appear to be a huge issue on the surface. It’s important to regularly inspect your tyres for such marks as a result. If they are significant, they could even make your car fail an MOT test, so avoid the risk of a nasty surprise by making these checks a routine. 

Bulges could mean that the internal structure of your tyre is faulty or at risk of failing, and they’re more common than you think. They appear if your tyre hits the side of a curb at speed, for example. Cracks happen for various reasons but usually occur due to age or foreign objects in the tyre, such as a nail or glass. It’s best to get your tyres examined by a professional if you suspect or spot a new alteration that wasn’t there before. Take care of your tyres, and they’ll take care of you! 

Purchase Brand-New Tyres

There is one way to solve your tyre safety troubles. ASDA tyres provide tyres from leading brands, including Goodyear, at competitive prices. Many people replace their tyres once they reach between 2-3 years old, though ultimately it does depend on the mileage and amount that you use them.  If you’re unsure about the age of your tyres,  there’s usually a marking on the sidewall. It’s in the form of a 4-digit age code, with the first 2 digits symbolising the week of manufacture and the last 2 symbolising the year. 

The Goodyear Excellence and EfficientGrip variants are extremely reliable options for safety and longevity and they’re excellent in wet conditions. We also offer other tyres from trusted brands, which keep you safe no matter where your journey takes you. If you’re still unsure about the safety of your tyres after reading this article, it’s time for a new set. Visit our help and advice section if you need further assistance or place your car registration on the homepage and let our systems do the rest.

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