All tyres will eventually wear out or become damaged, and so will need replacing in time. How quickly this happens depends on various factors like driving habits, where you live and how well you care for your tyres.
So, when should you invest in a new set?
Whilst you should check your tyres for wear and tear regularly; we know it can often fall down your to-do list and be seen as a lesser priority. You can use the following check list to see if your tyres need replacing:
Tread wear – using a 20p coin, you can check if your tread depth is below 1.6mm. Simply, place a20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit. If your tread depth falls below this measurement, you should invest in new tyres immediately as it will dramatically reduce your stopping distances.
Take a look at our Goodyear animation below showing you how easy it is to do:
Uneven wear patterns – can you see a certain part of your tyre is far more worn than others? This is often the case in cities with lots of roundabouts and if your tyre is wearing unevenly this can affect your steering and braking distances.
Bulges & blisters – look out for lumps and bumps on the sides of your tyres and be sure to check the inside of your tyres too.
Punctures – if you have suffered from a blowout or puncture you should replace your tyre immediately. In most cases, you’ll find that you aren’t able to drive your car until you’ve done so, but driving with a slow puncture could reduce your safety on the roads.
When looking to replace your tyres we’d always recommend that you buy all four tyres at once as it will give you optimum handling and control. You shouldn’t fit new tyres to your car that have different speed ratings or load-carrying capacities as this can also affect handling and driving performance. You should never use a mix of tyres; always use either a full set of winter or summer tyres on your car.
For better traction and stability when you drive, if you are only buying two new tyres put them on the rear wheels first as this is less likely to cause an over-steer effect. Instead, by fitting tyres to the rear you’ll get maximum grip and this will increase your safety on the roads.
Most importantly, before you replace your tyres, always consult the vehicle owner’s manual and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s replacement tyre recommendations.
Have you ever wondered what happens to your old tyres? Up to 90% of used tyres are recycled for energy efficiency within Europe, United States and Japan.
For extra information on how often you should change your tyres, visit our website.
If you have a tyre question, just #AskGoodyear.
