There is no way to tell precisely how long a tyre will last. The lifespan and mileage of a tyre depend on a combination of a few factors: the design, the climate, the driver’s habits, the road conditions and the care that’s put into the tyres.
A few milestones and tips:
Keep five years in mind
After five years or more of use, your tyres should be inspected regularly at least once per year by a professional.
Ten years is a maximum
If the tyres haven’t been replaced in 10 years after their manufacture date, as a precaution, Michelin recommends replacing them with new tyres. Even if the tyres appear to be in usable condition and have not worn down to the tread wear indicator. This will also apply to spare tyres.
Proper care expands a tyre’s lifespan
You can increase your tyre’s longevity by maintaining the correct air pressure, performing regular tyre rotations and vehicle maintenance.
Your tyres are your main physical connection with the road; they can tell us a lot about the condition of your vehicle and how well it is performing. Moreover, the healthier your tyres are, the longer they will last. Here are some tips to increase the longevity of your tyres and improve your vehicle’s performance:
Tip 1. Tyre Rotation
How often you rotate your tyres will likely depend on how frequently you drive your car, the common condition of the roads that you drive on, and the typical distance you drive. A good rule of thumb is to have your tyres checked for rotation every time you get your oil changed. It is also essential to have your tyres rotated before a long road trip – this will reduce the risk of a blowout or a flat tyre while travelling at high speeds for extended periods of time. Rotating your tyres spreads the wear around evenly amongst all four tyres so that the front and back, and right and left side tyres don’t wear out any sooner than others.
Tip 2. Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment can greatly improve longevity and reduce the wear of your tyres. It is essential to pay attention to any small difference in alignment by looking at your tyres wear patterns in addition to looking out for a few other telltale signs of misalignment. For instance, if you notice your steering pulling in a specific direction other than straight on a flat bit of road, you likely need an alignment. Or, if the emblem of your steering wheel is off-centre while facing in a straightforward direction, you should have your alignment checked.
Tip 3. Check Tyre Pressure Regularly
Keeping a tyre pressure gauge in your centre console is a good way to remind yourself to check your tyre pressure routinely. Many modern vehicles will alert the driver if tyre pressure becomes too low on any of the four tyres; however, in order to avoid uneven wear patterns, blowouts, frequent tyre replacement, or dangerous flats while driving at higher speeds, you should always keep your tyre pressure at the specified level recommended by the manufacturer. You can find this specific pressure level in your owner’s manual or on the inside of the driver’s side door.
Tip 4. Routine Suspension Inspection
Because your wheels and tyres are directly connected to the suspension components, they can express themselves in your tyre health if something goes wrong with a suspension part. For instance, one of your front tyres may show uneven wear patterns if a suspension component begins to prematurely wear or fail completely. By routinely checking your various suspension components through ongoing maintenance appointments, you can keep an eye on the different parts of your vehicle that affect your tyre health.
Here at CNC Wheels, we recommend replacing your tyre if the tread is worn beyond the recommended tread depth levels. Follow the below steps to check the condition of your tyres.
Inspect your tyre regularly and look for:
- Uneven tread wear
- Shallow tread
- Troublemakers (rocks, nails, etc.)
- Damaged areas
- Damaged valve caps
Pay attention to the “feel” of your tyres as you drive:
- A rough ride could indicate excessive wear or tyre damage.
- If you notice a vibration or other disturbances while driving, immediately reduce speed and pull over to inspect your tyres.
- If you notice tyre damage, deflate it and replace it with your spare. If you cannot see any damage or the vibration source, take the vehicle to a tyre shop for an inspection.
See a professional:
- If you notice something you are not sure about during your inspection, have it inspected by your tyre dealer to identify the problem and offer a solution.
- We don’t recommend driving on highways or long-distance until your tyres are safe to do so.
How do I inspect my tyre?
Check your air pressure:
- It’s quick and can prevent many problems
- Do it once a month
Check the tread wear using one of the three methods:
- With the tread wear indicators
- With a tread depth gauge
- With the penny test
One easy way to check for wear is by applying the penny test. All you have to do is grab your spare change and follow 3 easy steps:
- Reach your wallet and take a standard size penny.
- Select a point on your tyre where tread appears the lowest and place it into one of the grooves.
- New tyres typically come with 10\32 of an inch tread depth. If the tread depth covers below 2\32 of an inch, your car’s ability to grip the road is greatly reduced. Even if some parts of the tread are deeper than 2\32″, you should still consider replacing the tyre when any areas fail the penny test.
When should I inspect my tyres?
- Once a month
- Before long road trips
So now that we covered the most important aspects of determining whether you need to change your car’s tyres or not, it’s curial to make a decision if the tyres need to be replaced. We, CNC Wheels, offer a wide selection of car tyres and 4×4 tyres. Choose from popular brands like Michelin, Continental, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Goodyear, Falken, BF Goodrich, Toyo, Kumho, Winrun and much more.
And if you thinking of upgrading the look of your car or 4×4 truck, we offer wheels and tyres packages with free fitting and balancing at our Lansvale 2166 based shop. If you simply can’t make it to our shop, we will deliver your favourite wheels and tyres package to your address (Australia-wide shipping) include mounting, balancing and fitting accessories.
