Tyres can wear down at any time of the year. In fact, the more you drive on them, the more wear they will inevitably suffer from. Generally speaking, winter tends to be the toughest season for car tyres because it is more difficult to spot hazards you would otherwise have avoided when there are fewer daylight hours. There again, the summer months, especially during particularly hot spells, also wear down tyres more because the tarmac you drive over can sweat and bubble, leading to you picking up detritus as you drive over it. This is the case throughout the UK, in Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. Wherever you drive, what signs of tyre wear should you be looking out for?
1. Bulging Sidewalls in the Sun
In the summer, in places like East Scotland, tyres will get exposed to lots of early morning sun each dawn. The same goes for western parts of the UK, such as Anglesey, but in the evening as the sun goes down. If you park your car the same way each day, the same section of tyre sidewall will be exposed to prolonged periods of UV light. This can degrade the rubber compounds that all vehicle tyres are made from. If you notice what looks like big scratches or bulges in your tyres' sidewalls, then you need to replace them immediately as they may burst and cause injury.
2. Accelerated Tread Wear
Driving on over or under-inflated tyres will cause premature wear, especially if you drive a long distance to meet with family over the Christmas break or during a summer touring holiday. Check your tread depth using a gauge and replace your tyres whenever they begin to approach the legal limit, not when they reach it.
3. Slipping in Low Temperatures
If you notice that your tyres cause you to wheelspin in wet or icy conditions, then it doesn't necessarily mean you need to get rid of your old ones. What you may want to do is to fit winter tyres and retain your old set until next spring. This advice is especially helpful if you live in Scotland, which tends to see lower temperatures and more exposed roads. The same goes for the mountainous regions of North Wales. If you are looking for car tyres in Kirkcaldy that will suit your driving needs and budget, then you can check with Fife Autocentre. Don't put up with slipping tyres just because your tread wear is okay when a set of winter tyres, fitted professionally, could make all the difference to your safety.
4. Five-Year Tyre Lifespan
Tyres may not last for five years depending on which ones you buy and how far you drive. However, if this season represents five years since you last bought new tyres, then it probably means you need to replace them. Few tyres last longer than this even if they've not been driven on extensively in that period.
5. Strange Sounds From Your Wheels
When you have odd sounds or flapping noises coming from your tyres, you may need to have them replaced. Check with a reputable tyre dealer that also carries out wheel balancing because poorly balanced wheels can lead to uneven wear. In turn, this may result in the sorts of noises that indicate a tyre degradation problem.
Leave a Reply