New tyres: The ideal time for your car

When do tyres have to be replaced? This is a question many drivers ask themselves. Ultimately, the correct models play a major part in determining how safely and fuel-efficiently you travel. On the one hand, this is about the seasonal changeover: When should you replace your tyres in spring? Also, when do you replace summer tyres with winter tyres? On the other hand, fundamental aspects such as the wear and tear of tyres, tread depth and the age of the tyres are also reasons for new tyres.

Tyre wear limit: When are new tyres needed

Tyres have exceeded their wear limit if, for example, the tread depth has gone below a certain level. By then, that is certainly the time for new tyres. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 millimetres. Uniroyal recommends at least 3 millimetres for summer tyres and 4 millimetres for winter tyres.
Wear on car tyres is also accelerated when tyre pressure is too low. In this case: The tyre pressure should be too high instead of too low. It must be up to 0.3 bar above the recommended pressure. Low tyre pressure increases wear and tear. In addition: It results in higher petrol consumption of up to half a litre per 100 kilometres.
Uneven wear is another sign that new tyres are needed. This means that much of the tyre has sufficient tread depth – but other parts do not. The reasons for this may differ and can usually be established from the type of abrasion shown. If the wear is only visible on one edge of the tyre, then your tyres are not running parallel to the direction of travel. The cause may be incorrectly set tracking or a static or dynamic imbalance on the tyre. A common cause of an incorrect position is bumping the curb when parking. A wheel bearing with too much play or faulty shock absorbers can also lead to uneven wear and tear.

Take note of embedded foreign objects such as nails, which can also damage the inner structure of the tyre. You will also need to act if your tyres have irregularities. These include cracks due to puncturing or cutting, as well as bumps on the outer walls. They occur when driving over obstacles where impact takes place. This results in breakage of the wires which act as a stabiliser within the tyre.

Uniroyal. A brand of Continental.*