Follow Us on Google
By Moses Akaigwe
A tyre is the component which connects your car to the road. It’s this connection with the road that makes or breaks your driving experience. With new car tyres you experience smoother rides, feel less of the bumps, and are more confident when cornering or braking.
On the other hand, old tyres may slip or skid while driving on rough roads and may not offer safe grip and mobility you desire. As consumable components, all tyres eventually wear out and need replacement.
In this article we discuss the potential problems caused by old tyres and how to know when is the right time to change your car tyres.
1.Worn out tyre tread
Tread depth is the most easily identifiable sign that you need car tyre replacement. New tyres start losing tread depth as soon as you start driving them. Manufacturers like Apollo Tyres place tread depth indicators in between the tread lines to help customer identify the limits beyond which it’s not safe to drive a tyre.
The ideal tread depth for the passenger car segment is 1 mm. So, if you have worn out your car tyres up to the tread depth indicator markings or below the 1 mm threshold, it’s time to replace your car tyres.
2. Wheel alignment and wheel balancing issues
Although the first thing that comes to the mind when we hear wheel alignment and balancing is that it’s something to do with the tyres and the wheels, that isn’t exactly true. Wheel alignment relates to your car’s suspension system – the system that connects your car tyres to the rest of the vehicle. Misaligned wheels will cause the tyres to wear down quickly (causing uneven tread wear depending on the type of misalignment).
Similarly, wheel balancing is the process of adjusting the weight of the wheel with the tyre on to ensure uniform weight distribution.
If you have ruined one or more car tyres due to wheel alignment or wheel balancing issues, you will need to replace car tyres. Otherwise, the now unevenly worn tyres will cause misalignment and out-of-balance issues and create a vicious cycle that literally turns on itself.
3.Reduced braking efficiency
If you start feeling that the braking response of your car is not what it used to be, there are two factors that might be at play. One, the brake pads of your car are worn out and need replacement. Or, your car tyres are worn or damaged to an extent that the grip needed to brake efficiently is not there anymore. As tyres get older their minimum braking distance starts going down. Driving with such tyres at speeds is especially risky and you need to visit a tyre shop for replacing those old tyres asap.
4.Frequent punctures
Another sign that car tyre replacement is due, is the occurrence of frequent punctures. While there is always a risk of punctures for tyres both old and new, older tyres are more likely to get punctured from minor objects and bumps. It happens because as tyres age, their structural integrity starts deteriorating, making the compound weaker at places.
If a sharp object or bump collides with these weaker points, the result is a puncture or worse, tyre burst. So, once your trusty old tyres start making a habit out of punctures, it’s time to buy tyre replacements.
5.Damaged sidewalls
If the sidewalls of your car tyres are showing unusual bumps or protrusions or there are visible cracks in them, the tyres are unsafe to drive. Sidewalls not only help keep the tyres upright but also protect the tyre structure. Driving around with a damaged sidewall is an open invitation to tyre blowout. So, replace tyres with damaged sidewalls at first sight.
6.End of life:
All tyres are rated for a certain number of kilometres or miles, known as mileage. If you have driven your tyres past their rated mileage, there is no point hanging around with them anymore, because as they say, a stitch in time saves nine. Replacing your car tyres after they have run their course will not only help you ride safer but also help in avoiding inconvenient situations like getting stranded on a country road with a flat tyre.
7.Tyre age
Another physical factor that is equally important for tyre maintenance is keeping check on your car tyre age. All tyres should be ideally replaced after six years, as that’s by when the chemical compounds deteriorate past their usable stage. This can also be a reference point for you when buying new tyres.
* Courtesy: Apollo Tyres
