How Often Should You
Change Your Tyres?
Change Your Tyres?
time to think.
There is no legal limit to when you should change your car tyres. The lifespan of car tyres will depend on a number of factors which include, the condition of the roads you drive on, the climate and the drivers driving habits.
Depending on the miles you cover, the quicker the car tyres will need to be changed. On average you can expect a tyre to last somewhere between 20000-30000 miles.
WHEN DO I NEED TO CHANGE MY TYRES? ….
If your car tyres are under 10 years old, there are 3 occasions when they need to be changed:
– When the tread depth is below the legal limit
– When the tyre is visibly damaged
– When you have a puncture
WHEN THE TREAD DEPTH IS BELOW THE LEGAL LIMIT:
Tread is the rubber on the outer surface of the tyre which has grooves to help it grip the road’s surface, the depth of the grooves is known as tread depth.
In Northern Ireland the legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on a tyre is 1.6 mm across the central 3/4’s of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre.
WHEN THE TYRE IS VISIBLY DAMAGED.
Before you start a journey you should take a look at the state of your tyres for any obvious splits, blisters or bulges in the sidewall. If any of these are showing signs this is an indication of internal tyre damage.
When you are checking over your tyres you should also look out for uneven patterns of wear. This can be a result of misaligned wheels or incorrect tyre pressure.
Uneven tyre wear doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change the tyre immediately, but it is important to look out for any signs of damage.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PUNCTURE.
Punctures are the most serious form of tyre damage and should be dealt with immediately.
There are 2 different types of puncture that a tyre can experience: Fast OR Slow
Fast punctures can also be known as blowouts. These occur when the tyre bursts causing the tyre to instantly deflate. A car with a burst tyre is not safe to drive. In the unlikely event of this happening you should pull over and put the spare tyre on.
A slow puncture will occur when there is a small breach in the tyre. This can be caused by a piece of debris being stuck in the tyre wall. This will lead to a gradual leak of air. A slow punctured tyre can increase your probability of being involved in a accident and we advise that it should be changed as soon as you notice it.
NEED NEW TYRES ….
DS Autos are a local family run business offering competitively priced tyres. All popular tyre sizes are in stock.
We are open to 6pm weeknights and 12.30pm every Saturday for tyres!