5 Points That Indicate When To Change Your Tyres

Overlooking the condition of the tyres can affect your overall journey, making it unpleasant and unsafe. Read below to know more about the topic.

• It is essential to know your car and its components, and tyres are one of them.
• The tyres that appear to be visually worn out or impaired, need immediate attention.
• Instability or swerving in one direction is a clear indicator of a worn-out tyre.
• Extensive usage on rough surfaces may misalign and imbalance the wheels, which affects performance.
• Tyres getting punctured frequently can be a sign of early wear & tear, and demands replacement.
• On average, a car tyre needs replacement in 5-6 years, even if they look nice and dandy.

Many of you have often asked this question yourself or others when is the right time to replace your car tyre? Well, it depends on different factors, which we will discuss as we progress in the article. But one thing is sure tyres, as other components of a car, are often overlooked and underestimated.

Even if you are fond of your car and regularly check oil, radiator fluids and other things, tyres are likely to be ignored except for the periodic air pressure check. The tyre must be given equal importance, as it can affect the overall performance and might even jeopardize your safety at some times. And even if tyres are regularly maintained, they need to be replaced at a certain point in time, as they are a perishable component.

So, here are some of the signs that will tell you the right time for tyre replacement.

Depth Of The Tread

Tyres that visually appear worn out require immediate attention. Contemporary tyres feature a wear indicator, which is enough to turn your attention towards them. However, if you want to confirm the tyre wear, give yourself a ‘one rupee challenge’. Put a one-rupee coin in each groove of the tread, and this will give you a quick idea of the depth.

If the tread depth is the same in each groove and of all the tyres, you need not worry. However, if you see a significant difference in the depth, it’s a clear indication that one or more tyre is wearing faster. Get your wheel properly aligned and balanced to fix this. The rule of thumb is that the tread depth should not be less than 1.6mm.

Related : Top 8 Car Tyres For Indian Roads

Wheel Misalignment And Wheel Imbalance

Some people need to travel a lot on bad or imperfect roads regularly, and this can affect the wear and tear of one or more tyres. The best way to solve this irregular wear is to regularly get the wheel aligned and balanced. Generally, the wheel and balancing should be done every 5000 km or even early if you notice that the car is not maintaining a straight line.

Wheel alignment and balancing is a professional job and must be performed through an authorised dealership or trustable mechanic. If left unchecked, it deteriorates the performance and creates unsafe driving conditions, especially at high speeds.

Frequent Punctures And Sidewall Damage

A tyre which is worn out might make way for pointed objects to penetrate. It happens due to a lack of enough tread material. Hence, if you are facing regular punctures in your car, this might be the right time to buy yourself a new tyre. Secondly, the sidewall, which withstands the entire weight of the car, and is visible from the sides, can experience dents and cracks, and in some worst cases, tyre bursts.

If you see any visible signs of impairment, especially when you return from a long journey or off-roading, don’t forget to check the tyre.

Tyre Grip

Lacking a proper grip is one of the easiest ways of checking the integrity of your car tyre. Another aspect that may indicate uneven wear is when you start experiencing a change in the stopping potential of your car. Moreover, if your car starts to slide or suddenly becomes agitated, especially during high-speed cornering, it means one or more tyres have degraded.

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Extended Usage And Lifecycle

People who drive their vehicles on rough terrain regularly, or use their cars extensively on the highway are likely to experience more wear and tear in their tyres. Apart from this, the tyres have an average lifespan of 5 years, and even if you don’t drive your car regularly, the tyres may show signs of ageing after about five years of their manufacturing date.

A well-maintained tyre can serve for more than 40,000 kilometres. If you need to replace your tyres, then change all four of them at the same time, and take out the best one for spare.

In summary, tyres are another important component of your tyre that needs proper care and maintenance. If you feel any weird experience while driving, get the tyres checked by a professional without delay. Replacing them on time will only ensure the safety of you and your family.

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