Warning signs that you need to change your tyres are extremely important to look out for. Tyres are the most important aspect of a car and ignoring warning signs can cause serious problems.
Why Healthy Tyres Are Important
Tyres are the only point of contact on the road and need to be kept in perfect condition to ensure safety whilst travelling. Ensuring tyre health improves fuel economy and minimises carbon emissions. It not only reduces the cost of driving but will help the environment too! Illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres can cause serious road traffic accidents. In 2016, 8 people were killed and 120 people seriously injured due to unsafe or damaged tyres.
Having seen the devastating results of damaged tyres myself, tyre safety is really important to me. As a child, I was in a few road accidents, including losing control in the snow due to poor tyre tread. We stopped inches from a tree and set of stairs down to an underpass and it was terrifying!
Warning Signs You Need To Change Your Car Tyres
There are a few warning signs you can look out for that will indicate you need to change your car tyres.
Warning signs include:
- Your car feeling unsteady on the road and isn’t driving smoothly
- Too much vibration may indicate an alignment or balancing issue
- Lookout for cracks in the sidewall
- Bulges or blisters on tyres
- Low tread depth
- Weird noises such as thumping, whining or squeaking
- Aged tyres
- Low/High Tyre Pressure
Importance Of Buying The Right Tyres
What happens if you don’t go to an expert and ignore warning signs
Whilst you should keep an eye out for warning signs yourself, consulting a tyre expert is always the best option. Without regular checks, the quality of your tyres may suffer and lead to future tyre issues.
Over time the rubber in tyres degrades and may lead to a serious accident. Bald tyres are dangerous, especially on wet surfaces. Worn tyres should be replaced with a new equivalent well before the legal minimum tread limit. The minimum tread limit is 1.6mm but tyres should be replaced, as soon as they reach 3mm. It’s best to check your tyre tread regularly and consult an expert if you are unsure.
Car manufacturers set the type, make, size, profile, load carrying capacities and speed ratings of each car. You should only change the type of tyres on your vehicle based on expert advice to ensure your care is safe on the road.
Because tyre pressures vary, it’s always best to have an expert check the tyre pressure to avoid premature wear. Low pressure leaves the sidewall exposed as the tyre has to compensate to stabilise the car.
Any tyre issue should be checked over by an expert to ensure the safety of yourself, loved onesand other people on the road.
