Everything you need to know about tyre safety and maintenance

The importance of proper tyre maintenance cannot be overstated. After all, your tyres are the only thing standing (or rolling) between you and the harsh and unforgiving road. Tyre inflation, wear, size, tread, load capacity, and upkeep affect a lot more than just the vehicle’s traction in adverse road conditions. If any of the above are in a less-than-ideal state, the vehicle’s stability, fuel efficiency, braking, handling, and overall safety can become severely compromised. Follow these tips and recommendations to avoid tyre issues that may affect your bottom line or result in dangerous situations where the rubber meets the road.

When to replace your tyres

Modern tyres are built to be extremely durable and put up with a surprising range of weather and road conditions, however, the safety of your vehicle drops precipitously as tyres wear out. Here are a few ways to know when it’s a good time to change your tyres.

Every tyre has a four-digit build date stamped onto it indicating the year and week the tyre left the factory. When your tyres become 5 years old, they should be inspected closely by a professional. Subsequently, have them inspected again each year.
Always replace a tyre that’s 10 years old or older. The rubber in a tyre naturally loses its elastic properties when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light and other conditions.
Don’t forget to replace the spare if it’s old.
Replace tyres in pairs, so if you’re replacing one due to premature or uneven wear, consider replacing the tyre on the opposite side of the vehicle.
Any bulges, excessive exterior scrapes, or other marks that appear to go deeper than mere surface-level abrasions are grounds for replacement.

Not so fast

A damaged tyre doesn’t always need to be replaced to be safe on the road.
A tyre that regularly loses air may have a puncture or slow leak, but modern tyres can often be repaired for a fraction of the cost of a new tyre.
Tyre manufacturers recommend having a leaky tyre patched and fully inspected by a professional, never plugged.
A tyre seeping air can also suffer from malformed or damaged bead. Sometimes this can be repaired, other times, the tyre must be replaced. A damaged or corroded stem, rim, or wheel can also lead to leaky tyres.
If you’re unsure how old the tyres are, have them professionally inspected.

Check the tread

For the vehicles you own or use regularly, periodically measure the depth of the tread using a tread depth meter. Also get into the habit of measuring the tread of any used vehicle you plan to purchase.

All tyres feature wear markers that you can locate using arrows on the upper sidewall. Replace the tyres immediately if these blocks of rubber are level with the tread.
A broad rule of thumb is to replace tyres when there is less than 2 millimetres of tread left, but check the manufacturer recommendations to determine when replacement is necessary for your type of vehicle.
On commercial trucks, a tread depth of less than 1.5 millimetres indicates the tyre is not roadworthy.
Uneven tread wear can result from different driving styles, regularly towing heavy loads, poor alignment, or worn out suspension.
In many instances, retreading tyres, sometimes referred to as remolding or recapping them, provides an alternative to replacing the tyres altogether.

Factors that reduce tyre life

Despite the fact that all tyres have a rated mileage lifespan, it’s impossible to know exactly how long a tyre will last. There are more than a few factors that have an impact on the real lifespan you’ll get from a given tyre. For instance, the front and rear axles and right and left sides of your car put differing amounts of wear on different parts of the tyres, which is why rotating tyres is so important. Here are some more factors that will impact the lifespan of your tyres.

The vehicle operator’s driving habits
The climate or common driving conditions
Excessive heat or sun exposure
Typical road conditions
The amount of use that the vehicle gets
The wheel alignment of the vehicle
The maintenance of the vehicle (shocks, suspension, brakes, etc.)
The maintenance of the tyres themselves (balance, stems, etc.)
Using summer tyres on snow and ice
Mixing tyre types
Operating a vehicle with wheel and rim sizes that are not compatible

Keep an eye on your speed & load capacity

Running a vehicle or trailer with heavier than specified loads will put additional pressure on the air-filled tyres. This can result in the tyres running hotter, which in turn can cause the tyre wear out faster, or worse, to burst. Driving above the posted speed limit also puts greater stress on the tyre, which can compromise the vehicle’s safety.

Inflated expectations

Believe it or not, the amount of air you put into a tyre has a big impact on how evenly its tread wears out. Always follow the tyre or vehicle manufacturer’s specifications regarding the amount of tyre pressure to maintain. You can usually find this information in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the door frame.

Regularly driving on under-inflated tyres results in excessive shoulder wear, decreases the fuel efficiency of your vehicle, and forces your vehicle’s engine to work harder due to the greater rolling resistance.
Regularly driving on tyres that are over-inflated results in excessive inner or center wear.
Use a tyre pressure gauge to check your tyres at least once a month and release excess pressure or inflate them as needed.
Cold temperatures can decrease tyre pressure more than expected.

Spare no expense

When it comes right down to it, making sure your tyres are safe and road-ready should be a primary concern for every driver on the road. Here are a few maintenance reminders to keep in mind every time you get behind the wheel.

After purchasing new tyres, make sure to register them to receive notifications in the event of a safety recall.
Inspect your tyres visually whenever you plan to be on the road.
If there’s the slightest hint of exterior damage on a tyre, install the spare and get the damaged tyre inspected immediately.
If you’re running on a less-than-full-sized spare, make sure you don’t go above the spare’s reduced speed requirement.
If the vehicle shakes, wobbles, or shimmies excessively, ensure the tyres are properly balanced.
Ensure the tyre gauge you’re using is accurate.