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When Should I Replace My Car Tyres?
Car owners across the globe are more than familiar with the amount of maintenance it takes to keep a vehicle running for a number of years. In fact, the amount of work and replacements that need to be performed can be hard to keep track of after a while.
That being said, there are certain components of a car that shouldn’t be neglected. Tyres certainly fall in the category of parts that need to be replaced and maintained regularly. This is important to note because many people overlook their tyres in order to concentrate on other parts of the car, such as the engine. And for those with particularly cheap car tyres, this can be dangerous.
Neglecting one’s car tyres is done at one’s own risk. Tyres are designed for safety. The primary function of the tyre is to allow the vehicle to move. However, the primary function of the tread on the tyre is to keep water away from the unit as a whole. This gives the vehicle traction, and that is especially important in wet weather. When the tread on a tyre wears down, it presents a safety issue. In these instances the tyres need to be changed as quickly as possible.
Many factors contribute to wearing down of a tyre tread. However, if the driver spends an inordinate amount of time in extreme conditions, such as off-roading or driving through mountainous areas with ice and snow conditions, the tread will wear down faster than a city driver’s treads.
The process of checking a car’s treads isn’t particularly difficult. When the vehicle seems to be losing traction, simply inspect the tread pattern of the tyre. Tyres sold everywhere come equipped with small bars between each tread called “tread wear bars.” They may be between the treads or running across the tyre itself. When the tread wear bar is flush with the tread of the tyre, it’s time for replacement.
One less official method of testing the treads on one’s tyres is what’s known as the “penny method.” This involves sticking a copper penny inside the tread of the tyre. The point is to gauge the depth of the tread. As a rule, if the top of the Queen’s head is visible after inserting the penny in the tyre, it’s time replace it.
For those living in countries without access to pennies, one option is to use a tread-depth indicator. This will cost a bit of money but the benefit is that these devices are highly accurate and can tell, beyond a doubt whether or not the tyre needs replacement. These devices can be purchased from any auto supply retailer and they are very user-friendly.
It’s also important to check all tyres when looking for tread wear. Some people find that the level of tread wear is different from tyre to tyre. This is important to note, as it can mean the tyres are misaligned and need to be rotated. Failure to do so can lead to problems down the line.
Aside from these tips the general rule of thumb is to replace vehicle tyres every six years, as the maximum service life for almost all tyres is 10 years. Cheap car tyres may need to be replaced more frequently than this.