How do I know if my tires are suitable for replacement?

Every driver knows that driving on worn tires is uncomfortable and dangerous. But how do you know when to replace it? Read our article and find out how to find out if the condition of your tires allows you to use them!

What will you learn from this post?

• When should you replace a tire with a new one?
• How to determine tire wear?

Shortly speaking

Tires should be replaced with new ones, especially if the tread is excessively worn. The minimum depth allowed by Polish law is 1,6 mm. The tire also eliminates any mechanical damage, deformation, tears and cuts. It should also be remembered that the material from which the tires are made is subject to aging. The nominal service life is 4-10 years (depending on the tire class), but this time can be shortened, for example, due to improper storage or frequent driving with insufficient pressure.

Why check the condition of your tires?

Driving with excessively worn tires is a serious road hazard. Tires in poor condition are less steerable, have low traction and increase fuel consumption. Therefore, it is very important to regularly check the condition of the tires in terms of both mechanical wear and tread wear. Checking should be carried out at least once a season - when switching from summer to winter and vice versa. And, of course, any time you feel a distinct change in your driving style, which could be a sign of tire damage.

Tire Wear Signs: Tread Depth

After the TWI (wheel tread indicator) has been exceeded, after which the tire must be replaced in accordance with Polish law, we are talking about minimum tread depth 1,6 mm. However, this limit value should not be expected. The smaller the tread, the worse the properties of the tire. This means driving comfort and safety: a driver with worn tires will find it difficult to manage precise steering, grip in corners and skid when braking. A tire with too thin a tread is difficult, especially on wet roads - then the risk of aquaplaning increases. We wrote about how to deal with such cases in the article Aquaplaning - what it is and how to prevent it.

The grip reference point is a new 8mm tread tire with 100% traction. The 4mm tread provides 65% wet grip. With a tread depth of at least 1,6 mm, road grip is only 40%.

Tire Wear Symptoms: Age

The mixture of materials contained in the tire ages and thus also loses its parameters, including elasticity and, as a result, grip. What is the maximum tire life? It is difficult to determine this unambiguously - it was once believed that tires need to be changed after 4-5 years. Today, in the premium class, you can find tires with a service life of up to 10 years. It is worth remembering that Tire aging accelerates misusefor example, driving too fast, pressure or too much load, and insufficient storage during the off-season.

Tire wear symptoms: mechanical damage

Tears, cuts, deformations, bead core detection, tread peeling and other similar damage also deprive the tire of further use. The most common cause of deformation is damage to the road surface. When you hit the edge of an obstacle on the road or into a deep hole, the rim damages the inner layer of the tire and the air pressure causes a bulge at that point. A damaged tire structure can "let go" at any time and begin to lose air. Sometimes the pressure just breaks it from the inside out. Of course, how dangerous such traffic situations are.

Where to return worn out tires?

Tires are recyclable, so you can't just throw them in the trash can. During replacement, most repair shops collect used tires from customers and take them to a recycling plant. However, if you replace your tires yourself, you can take them to the PSZOK (selective waste collection point). Remember to change tires in sets and avoid exposing yourself to discomfort, danger and financial loss due to uneven wear.

Tire wear is also affected by the general condition of the car. So check all the components in your car regularly and don't put yourself in danger - and costs! At avtotachki.com you will find spare parts and accessories for your car, as well as training aids and tools to help you keep your tires in top condition!