WHEN SHOULD I CHANGE THE TYRES?
Four small strips of rubber, each the size of a postcard, is all that lies between you and potentially life-threatening situations on the road. So it is important to take great care of the tyres. They must be correctly inflated and replaced when they are worn or damaged.
Tyre Tread Depth
Tyres should be changed when the tread depth is under 3mm or 78% worn for summer tyres, and 4mm for winter tyres. If the depth goes below these limits, it can seriously affect the performance of the tyre and the safety of the vehicle in the weather conditions your are driving in especially of they change.
A simple way to measure it is to insert a 20p piece coin into the grooves of the tyre and if the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit. If the outer band of the coin is visible, then your tyres maybe illegal and unsafe and should be checked immediately by a qualified tyre professional. When taking the test, remember to check at least three locations around each tyre. As the test is so quick and easy, stay safe by checking your tyres at least once a month.
Check for damage or irregular wear
When carrying out a check of your vehicles tyres always check for:
- Uneven wear (on both sides of the tyre)
- Cuts, tears, cracks or bulges on the sidewall
- Damage caused by impacts, especially after driving over rough surfaces.
- Stones or other sharp objects lodged in the tyre
- Damage to the rims (which in turn may cause damage to the tyres)
- Ageing of the tyres.
All these can cause damage which threaten the safety of the tyres. We recommend going to any First Stop specialist as soon as possible, if any of the situations listed above should occur.