How Do I Know My Tyres Need Changing?
We have probably mentioned it before, but as a responsible driver you should be checking your car tyres regularly. Tyres are not just susceptible to wear over time, there is also a risk that they will be damaged by driving over a pothole or hitting a kerb, so you do need to visually inspect your tyres.
When you check your tyre treads, you should also check the pressure. Incorrect tyre pressures can actually cause excessive or uneven wear on your tyre treads, meaning you need to change them sooner than you would like! Over or under filled tyres can also lead to accidents, so this isn’t simply a cost issue.
If you haven’t been visually checking your tyres regularly, the first hint that your tyres need changing may be a difference in the driving performance. If you feel that your stopping distances are increasing, or your car just isn’t gripping the road as it used to, it is time to check your tyres, and the chances are you will need to buy new tyres. This may be more noticeable in wet weather conditions when it is harder for tyres to grip anyway, but in general it will be hard to notice the difference as it is usually a gradual decrease in performance.
When you are checking your tyre treads, the legal limit is 1.6mm and many tyres have built in tread wear indicators at this point. However, it is worth remembering that particularly in poor weather, it is recommended that you have at least 3mm of tread left on your car tyres for optimum grip.