How do I know when I need new tyres?

Posted 1 January, 1970 Samuel Smith

Despite being one of the most important safety features on your car, chances are you don’t pay much attention to your tyres.   That is, until your mechanic tells you it’s time for a new set, and you begrudgingly pay the bill. But tyres shouldn’t be an afterthought.   Nor should they be left on your rims until your mechanic or a police officer (armed with a defect notice) tells you they’re unsafe. Being proactive about your tyres could potentially save your life – they are, after all, the only cushioning between the metal of your car and the road below. To help you know when it’s time for a new set, here are some tell-tale signs of wear. In South Australia, a tyre is deemed unroadworthy if it has a tread depth of less than 1.5mm. This applies to all parts of the tyre that make contact with the road. You can measure your tread with a depth gauge, available at most auto stores.   Most tyres also feature tread wear indicators, which are bumps running across the bottom of the grooves. When the tread wear indicator – which is usually 1.6mm high – sits flush with your tread, you’ll know it’s time to replace your tyres. While cracks and hardening are obvious indicators of age, sometimes even old tyres can look deceptively fresh. As a rule, a tyre’s lifespan is six years from its manufacturing date. To find out when a tyre was made, check its Tyre Identification Number (TIN). This can be found on the tyre’s wall, in the format WWYY (WW represents the week it was made and YY represents the year). Finally, check for signs of uneven tread wear. This can be caused by a range of issues from over-inflation to defective suspension parts. If spotted early, a qualified automotive technician can fix whatever is causing the problem, before you need to fork out for a new set of tyres.              

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