Signs You May Need New Tyres

Tyres age at different rates. Although one tyre on your car may be in perfectly good condition, it is does not necessarily follow that your other tyres are fully roadworthy. There a various signs that indicate to drivers that their tyres are ageing and will need to be replaced soon. Therefore, you should inspect all four of them every few thousand miles. It is always better to head to your local tyre shop before your tyres become illegal to drive on. This way, you will avoid any potential legal troubles from tyres that are in an unroadworthy state. You will also save yourself from the likelihood of an accident because new tyres are more responsive and, ultimately, safer to drive on than older ones. What should you be looking out for?

Tyre Bulges

If you notice that the side of your tyre has developed a bulge, then it is a sign of a real problem. When you pump up a tyre that has a bulge in it, the force of the air pressure could cause it to blow out, which is extremely dangerous if you happen to be anywhere near it when this happens. Bulges show that the rubber compound that your tyre is made from is starting to disintegrate. Something as commonplace as sunlight can have an effect in speeding this process up. You tend to notice bulges in tyres which are exposed to a lot of ultraviolet light—for example, those on cars which are only parked outside without any shade.

Tyre Scratches

Like bulges, scratches in tyres are a sign of a potential problem in the foreseeable future. When a scratch appears in a tyre's sidewall, it indicates that it is actually coming apart. Rubber splits on the side of tyres quite regularly, and the problem gets worse the older your tyres happen to be. If you see a scratch, then it is likely not to have been caused by a sharp object but from the tyre starting to come apart.

Flattening Tyres

All tyres lose air pressure as you drive. Every time you bump up and down a kerb or a speed hump, a little air is knocked out of your tyres. To maintain your tyres well, you should keep them pumped up. This will prevent excessive tread wear and improve your fuel efficiency. However, if one or more of your tyres needs constant re-pressurising, then something is amiss, and you may have a slow puncture. If so, it is time to purchase some new tyres to replace the problematic ones.

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