You might think checking your tyres is hard, but it can be done in five minutes from your own driveway. There are simple steps that makes checking your tyres quick and easy. It also helps prevent breakdowns, keeps you from paying fines, and helps you avoid dangerous situations.
First, walk around the car and check each tyre for any damage. Look for obstructions, such as nails or screws, and also watch for cuts and bulges on the sidewall. Sidewall bulges are a serious tyre problem because the internal sidewall damage can lead to an unexpected and dangerous tyre failure. If you notice a bulge or other serious issues, do not drive the car any longer. Have a professional examine the tyre.
Next, check the tread depth. The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, however, most experts suggest replacing tyres at around 3mm as this depth is much better for grip in wet conditions. The 20p test is the simplest method to use. Place the 20p coin in the grooves of the main tread. If the coin’s outer rim is covered, then your tread is probably within legal limits. But, if the outer band of the coin is visible, you need to arrange to get your tyres replaced.
Car tyre pressure can be just as critical, if not more than, car tyre tread. Tyres that are under-inflated will wear unevenly and cost more to run because of increased fuel consumption. Handling in wet and icy conditions can become dangerous at best. Over inflation of the tyres can reduce the size of the contact patch, which is the area of the tyres that are on the road, and can make for less predictable braking. Tyre pressures can be found in the handbook of the car, and on a sticker in the frame of the door on the drivers side. It is quick and easy to check the tyre pressures using the airline at the nearest petrol station, along with a tyre pressure gauge.
When checking other features of your vehicle it is also important to check your tyres for uneven wear. If one edge is more worn than the other, this can indicate a problem with your wheel alignment or suspension. If these problems are not fixed, they will continue to get worse and will cause unnecessary wear to a set of tyres that are otherwise perfectly good.
Repair kits and spares may be easy to neglect. Still, you should check your spare for flatness and perishing. An unusable spare will be of no assistance when you need it most. Therefore, take a minute to check it once a month to avoid getting caught out in an emergency.
Lastly, monitor the age of your tyres. Regardless of the tread depth, rubber becomes hard and deteriorates when it ages. Therefore, tyres older than approximately six years should be approached with careful consideration. The date of manufacture is moulded into the tyre’s sidewall which shows a four-digit code representing the week and year of production. Therefore, checking the date only takes a moment.
Integrating this quick tyre check into your daily routine, along with your regular fluid and light checks, helps keep you and other road users safe and helps you avoid unexpected costs. While it takes virtually no time, this simple practice can truly impact your driving experience, fuel consumption, and your confidence while driving.