{"id":4413,"date":"2020-05-21T22:44:43","date_gmt":"2020-05-21T22:44:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carexamer.com\/blog\/?p=4413"},"modified":"2026-02-27T23:12:36","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T23:12:36","slug":"signs-car-needs-new-tyres-how-to-check","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carexamer.com\/blog\/signs-car-needs-new-tyres-how-to-check\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs a Car Needs New Tyres & How to Check"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Needing new car tyres is something all vehicles go through in their time. When, how often and how necessary each tyre change is, however, is where things aren\u2019t so clear. Whether you\u2019re checking the life on your own tyres or even looking at the tyres on a car you\u2019re about the buy, checking the state of tyres and signs to look for is essential to safety when driving. It\u2019s not something you can get away with, and it all comes down to that government mandatory 1.6mm tread. We advise 5mm to be left when buying a used car as its 50% of tyre life left or in simple words 2 years of driving with average mileage 10.000 miles a year. Despite how vital it is to keep your tyres in a safe state and give them the upkeep that they require, many people still just aren\u2019t quite sure about doing it. It always feels like a subject matter that has a lot of leeway depending on who you ask, but in reality, there’s a fine line between a tyre that\u2019s legal and a tyre that isn\u2019t, and it can cost you your life as well as your money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you stay on the ball with your own tyres and how to\nreally get the full picture when you\u2019re looking at any other tyres, for that\nmatter, it\u2019s a good idea to learn the signs that you need to change your tyres,\nand the finer points of testing tyres too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyre Warning Signs <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A great place to start is with the key points you need to\nkeep an eye out for. There are some things that really stand out from the crowd\nthat can tell you that you need to take action. All of them are essential to\nlook out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tread<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common thing to look at is the tread your tyres\nhave on them. This is a fundamental aspect of tyres. Your tyres need enough\ntread on them to have the grip that you need to stay safe on the road. The more\ngrip you have left on your tyres the longer they will last you before you need\nto change them. If a tyre is looking particularly bald, you know that your\ntime’s up. Get them checked and changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The grip on your tyres isn’t the only vital sign to remember with you’re looking at your tyres, and that’s even more essential when you’re looking at an older car or a car that has been left standing a while. Cracks in the rubber are a strong sign that you tyre has been through some stress and isn’t up to scratch either. It means the rubber is beginning to lose its form and dry out, making it unfit for purpose, even with enough grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age & Mileage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even less visible signs you need new tyres are still signs none the less, and when you have all of the information that you need whether it’s from memory or from a seller, you can really do some digging and find more holes in the tyre health too. An effective sign that you may well need new tyres no matter what state they are in actually comes from the age of the ones you have. Even with light use city driving and minimal mileage, your tyres will still degrade over time. Count the age as well as the mileage, and if you have hit 10k miles or the 10 years mark on the same tyres, you definitely need to get them checked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bulges and Holes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, a massive sign that you need new tyres on your car\nis that you may well begin to find issues in the tyre shape and integrity. Even\naside from all of the other points, it’s not uncommon to find bumps, bulges and\nholes in any tyre, especially when driving on poor quality surfaces. This all\nhas a massive impact on tyre health and will likely mean you need to get them\nchanged ASAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Check Your Tyres<\/h2>\n\n\n
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If you have seen some of the signs that new tyres are on the\nhorizon and you want to ally put them to the test to see the results, you can\nactually check your tyres at home a lot of the time to help spot the issues.\nYou just need to know how to do it in a reliable way. You need to have the\nall-important 1.6mm minimum tyre tread on your tyre\u2019s circumference after all<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Correct Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a perfect world, you will have the car in questions tyres\nchecked by a pro. A vehicle inspector, mechanic or even you with the right tool\nlike a tyre thickness gauge is perfect. Get the right tools for the job and you\nwill get a reliable and accurate reading whenever you need one, and that can\nmake all the difference. It\u2019s hard to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coin Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An alternative and much more accessible way is to use a\ncoin. Ideally, this is a 20 pence piece, as it has the perfect shape and sizes\nto get this done. You place the coin in the shallowest part of your tyres grip\nand see what it still visible. If you can\u2019t see the outer edge of the coin,\nyou\u2019re probably okay for grip. If you can see the edge, you need to refer to\ntest one, or get them changed. It\u2019s not worth risking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kick Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As for testing other aspects of the tyres aside from grip,\nit can also be a good idea to give the tyres some external force. Rubbing and\nkicking tyres (sensibly) can be a great way to check for easily formed cracks\nand structural issues. These are just as bad after all and looks can be\ndeceiving. Don’t get caught out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, no one knows better than the pros. If you are in doubt, then there is probably a good reason for it. Tyres are not cheap, so whether you buy new or part worn<\/a> on a new car or your trusty vehicle, get it done. Safety is paramount, and you can\u2019t risk your life. Buying a used vehicle don’t forget to check tyre thread if confused take your time, inspect everything, and when in doubt, get a professional\u00a0pre purchase inspection<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Happy Driving!<\/p>\n\n\n\n