The Consequences of Neglecting Tyre Maintenance and Replacement

For any vehicle to run smoothly and safely, having the right tyres is essential. Tyres are the crucial link between your car, van, truck or motorcycle and the road surface. Good quality tyres with sufficient tread depth can help ensure better grip, shorter braking distances, and improved handling and stability.

When tyres start to wear down, they lose their effectiveness and can become a serious hazard. Driving on excessively worn or damaged tyres increases the risk of a blowout or loss of control of the vehicle, which could lead to a potentially devastating accident. That’s why it’s so important to replace your Tyres Grays before they get too bald or damaged.

Choosing Replacement Tyres

When it’s time for new tyres, it’s really important to buy from a proper tyre retailer that sells well-known brand name tyres like Bridgestone Tyres Grays or other quality makes. You might be tempted by really cheap, non-brand tyres because the price is low. But these budget tyres are usually not as good quality. They likely won’t last as long and won’t be as safe or grippy. Spending a little more on proper brand-name tyres is worth it.

Think about what sort of driving you mostly do and the road conditions where you live and drive. If you just do normal driving around town and on A-roads, a good quality all-season or summer tyre should work well. But if you spend a lot of time on motorways doing high mileage, you might want a tyre specifically designed for long life and durability at sustained high speeds. And if you live somewhere that gets a lot of mud, snow or ice in winter, dedicated winter tyres or all-weather tyres with better grip will make driving safer.

It’s crucial to get tyres that are the right size, load rating and speed rating for your vehicle as per the handbook from the manufacturer. Don’t just get any old tyre size. Having different tyre types or sizes on the same axle is generally not recommended because it can affect the handling and make the vehicle unstable or unsafe to drive.

The Legal Requirements

By law in Britain, car tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread all the way around. For motorcycle tyres, the minimum tread depth is 1mm. For light trucks like vans and pickups, the tyres must have 1.6mm of tread depth. For heavy trucks, the front steering tyres need a 1mm minimum, while the other tyres require a 1.6mm tread depth. These are the legal limits set by the government to try to keep vehicles safe on the roads.

However, lots of safety organizations say you should replace your tyres sooner than the legal minimum. They advise that a tread depth of 3mm is the point where you should get new tyres fitted. When the tread gets lower than 3mm, the tyres don’t grip the road as well, especially in wet weather conditions. With less tread, the tyres can lose grip and cause skidding or sliding, which could result in a crash. So while 1.6mm is the absolute legal minimum, 3mm is the recommended depth for safety.

Tread Wear Indicators

Most car and truck tyres these days have tread wear indicator bars moulded into the grooves of the tread pattern. These bars are set at a depth of 1.6mm. So when the tread gets worn down to the point where these indicator bars are level with the tread surface, it’s a very clear visual sign that the tyres need urgent replacement. The indicators make it easy to see when treads are getting dangerously low.

But tyres can get damaged in other ways too, not just through normal tread wear. You should check regularly for any cuts, cracks, bulges or other signs of potential failure. Even if the tread depth measures okay, older tyres can perish and degrade over time from things like heat, sunlight and chemicals. So age and visible damage are other important factors, not just tread depth alone. Doing frequent visual checks is crucial for spotting potential tyre issues before they become dangerous.

Caring For Your Tyres

To get your money’s worth and keep your tyres in good condition for as long as possible, you need to look after them properly. Check the tyre pressures at least once a month and before any long journeys. Underinflated tyres wear down the tread much faster, increase your fuel costs as the engine has to work harder, and can even overheat and fail.

Every so often, take your vehicle to a professional garage and get them to check the wheel alignment. If the tracking is out of line, it causes the tyre treads to wear down unevenly on one edge. This premature wear means you’ll need replacements sooner. Also, try to avoid hitting kerbs, potholes or other road hazards that can damage the tyre walls and internals through impacts.

And remember, tyres do have a maximum lifespan of around 5-7 years typically. So even if your tread depth still looks okay, once tyres get old they can start deteriorating and need swapping out for new ones. Proper maintenance and inspections, along with replacing when needed, are crucial for safety, control and getting good value over the tyre’s usable life.