The lifespan of your vehicles’ tyres depends on several factors such as the road surfaces you drive on, your driving style and how the wheels have been balanced. However, one thing is for sure – all tyres wear out over time and need to be replaced timeously to avoid dangerous driving situations.
When determining if your tyres need replacing, use the following checklist from Gumtree:
When determining if your tyres need replacing, use the following checklist from Gumtree:
- Most vehicles have tread wear indicators, which can only be found when the tread is highly damaged. In South Africa, the legal limit of this is 1.66mm.
- Cracks or damage in the sidewall of the tyre due to wear and tear can be extremely dangerous as these could blowout at any moment.
- Uneven tread wear is an indication of damaged tyres, which can be caused by wheel alignment issues.
- In cases when the outer surface of the tyre weakens, there are noticeable blisters or bulges that can be highly dangerous if not replaced immediately.
- Sometimes, as a seasoned driver, you just know your tyres need to be changed, especially when it ‘feels’ different or vibrates excessively. These vibrations may be caused by internal wheel damage, bending of a wheel, or shock absorber issues.
- While inspecting your tyres, you may find a tread puncture greater than 6mm. This is a red flag that must be rectified by changing the tyres as soon as possible.
- Change all four tyres at the same time for optimum handling and control.
- If you are only planning to replace two tyres, ensure they match and put them on the rear axle preferably for better traction.
- Do not match tyres with different speed ratings.
