Signs When To Change Your Car Tyres: The Ultimate Guide

Car tyres have the most wear and tear as they directly contact the road. But they are often overlooked. When to change car tyres? Well, the right time to change car tires is different for everyone. You can’t decide a fixed number of miles before you change them.

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So, don’t push further when you detect car tyre damage warning signs. Ignorance can be risky and illegal. Being an external and active part of a car, the tyre gives visible damage signs. Suppose you’re noticing some weird behaviour about your vehicle lately. Then, you’re at the right place as it can be due to tyre concerns. 

So keep reading to know the signs when to change car tyres:

#1 Performance Issues

One of the most common alerting signs of car damage is performance issues. However, a driver’s instincts can catch some differences, which may be due to tyres. Some of the typical performance issues related to tyres are:

• Uneven gripping of tyres. Especially driving in extreme terrains or rainy weather, you can notice un-gripping. It’s the initial sign of tyre wear and tear.
• One may feel a mild pull on tyres.
• Delayed response of the vehicle. For example, delayed braking and acceleration.
• Low pressure in tyres leads to more consumption of fuel and lower performance.

If a driver notices abrupt behaviour in the vehicle’s performance, you must check the tyres for any wear and tear. Although, Irrespective of tyres age, the cause can be accidental too.

#2 Tread Wear

A car with all show and no grip is a big no. So, if you notice low tread depth on tyres, you must immediately change it. Treads are angular grooves on the tyres for providing friction and grip. 

The legal tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm whereas new cars have 5mm to 8mm of tread depth.  If you’re driving with anything lower than that, get ready for fines and legal issues. It’s advisable to change your tires at 3mm tire depth. The decreasing grip can be the cause of accidents in unfavourable climatic conditions. 

So, for a simple review, visit car maintenance. The experts can provide you with exact tread depth and advice on tyre replacement.

Read: What is the Cost of Car Breakdown Recovery

#3 Uneven Tyre Damage

Asymmetric tyre wear can be caused by improper alignment or a damaged suspension. Also, tread wear at the single side of the tyre causes uneven damage. Other reasons may be over or under-inflation of tyres. 

A faulty braking system can cause heating and uneven damage to the tyre. Reasons can be internal or external. So, damage at the centre, edges or single side is a sign of tyre replacement which should be examined cautiously.

#4 Strange Noises

Another sign of when to change car tyres is strange noises. Gather valuable clues from tyre sounds. The sounds are clear indications of some severe tyre problem. The usual sounds are whining, squeaking and thumping. It can indicate damage from a bump or a stressed-out tyre. The possible reasons can be tread wear, misalignment, low pressure etc. One must involve professionals as soon as they notice such sounds. 

#5 Too Much Vibration

Mild vibrations are justified while driving due to the engine. But, strange vibrations are a sign of wheel or tyre problems. The vibration due to damaged or bent wheels can cause imperfect spinning. Also, internal damage to the tyre can cause irregular spinning despite the wheel being okay.

Poor alignment and suspension failures may be the reason for unexplained vibrations. The causes can vary, so you have to get your wheels and tyres checked for proper understanding. Some reasons may demand minor repair, while others may need tyre replacement.

#6 Visible Cracks, Bulges and Bristles on Tyre

The most visible signs of tyre replacement or repair are cracks, bulges and bristles. So, let’s have a look at each warning sign.

Visible Cracks: Most tyres used in passenger vehicles are radial tyres. The sidewall durability is of prime importance, and several potholes and bumping lead to visible cracks.

Bulges: Bulges result from external pressure on a specific spot of the tyre. It can lead to severe blowouts. The bulges are noticeable at the initial stage. So, examine your car appropriately.

Bristles:  Bristles can be due to internal or external damage like sharp cuts and bumping, leading to a puncture. It’s also an alarming situation and should be handled immediately.

All these visible and dangerous signs can be reasons for a blowout. If you experience a blowout, notice bulges, bristles and cracks while driving, immediately calls for roadside assistance. The professionals can be reached out with the help of phone numbers. They will arrive at the situation and do preventive repairs. These experts carry the vehicle to car maintenance stations in case of severe damage.

#7 Pressure

The uneven pressure in tyres can cause many visible difficulties related to tyres. You can find the actual pressure demand of your vehicle in your user manual or inside the fuel filler flap. The underinflation of tyres can cause miscommunication between steering and tyres for higher fuel demands. Also, over deflection of sidewalls of tyres are caused by low pressure.

On the other hand, if the tires seem to lose air quickly, get it checked for punctures. Very high pressure can cause building and flattening of tyres, a reduced grip that can be hazardous. 

So, equip yourself with knowledge of pressure. Your car may have a pressure measurement in ‘PSI’ or ‘Bar’. Before having a car rip with overloading, check your pressure at the nearest service stations. Always know your pressure scale and tally it with a pressure measuring tool.

Let’s Wrap it

A vehicle is one of the most precious assets. It makes everyone’s life convenient and very comfortable. And these machines require proper maintenance and care for longevity and safety. So, never ignore the car’s behaviour and alarming signs. 

For example, the tyres are often overlooked, but good tyres can drastically improve the performance and owners experience. It’s advisable to change car tyres after six years, but timely fixes can increase its life. So, check all the warning signs and visit the best car maintenance service for resolving all the issues.

Read also: Common Cause of Car Breakdowns