When to Replace Car Tyres?

Your car may have the most modern connectivity, drivability and entertainment features, but it cannot run without its legs, the tyres. Having a set of high-performance car tyres not only improves the drivability and road safety but also aids other components in working better. That’s why timely replacement of car tyres is imperative once the tyres have covered their rated miles on the road.

While inspecting tyres is fairly straightforward, getting an expert opinion is never a bad choice. Or you can check the tread wear indicator (TWI) on your car tyres and see how they are faring. If the tread wear has hit the TWI marking, it’s time to buy new tyres.

6 Signs Indicating When to Change Tyres

Inadequate Tread Depth

One of the most critical factors indicating when to change car tyres is tread depth. You must regularly examine tire depths to identify any wear and ensure timely replacement of tires. It can be identified by measuring tread depth using a tread depth gauge or the penny test. If it measures down to 2/32 of an inch or less, your tyres are not suitable for adverse weather conditions as their traction will diminish significantly. Therefore, if the tread depth is not adequate, replace your tyres with new ones to ensure they can reduce grip on the road and compromise safety.

Punctures and Damage

Another factor that might be asking you to replace your old tyres is frequent damage and punctures. Punctures exceeding 1/4 inch in the tread or sidewall damage may render a tire irreparable. The reasons behind these frequent punctures and damages are many like debris and potholes disrupting the internal structure of the tires. But the solution is just one—tire replacement. Keeping an eye on how frequently your tyres demand puncture repairs will help you know whether prompt replacement is required or not.

Clocked Kilometres

Next on the list of signs indicating a need for tire replacement is the number of kilometres clocked in the meter. Extensive usage of tyres results in their wear and tear. Therefore, after certain kilometres, the tyres wear down, diminishing their performance and safety. Now the question comes- After how many kms tyres should be changed? The answer is after around 50,000 km. However, this count can increase or decrease depending on various factors like tread depth adequacy and grip. Changing tyres after certain kilometres is essential for safe driving and vehicle performance as it ensures adequate grip.

Tyre Age

Another important factor to know when to replace car tyres is the age of the tires. Usually, your tyres need to be changed every six years. Irrespective of how many kilometres they have run, they slowly age with time. Their aging results in making them brittle. The brittle nature of tyres reduces overall performance and increases the risks of blowouts. The general guidelines suggest that a tire post six years can pose a threat to your safety. Also, you must be aware of the age of your specific tyres and follow the age limit specified by the manufacturers.

Decreased Braking Efficiency

Reduced brake efficiency is another sign indicating the need for tire replacement. It is a critical sign that must never be neglected and acted upon immediately. tyres might tear down with time, resulting in reduced grip that significantly affects the braking efficiency. This reduction leads to increased stopping distances and compromises your control over your vehicle. Therefore, as soon as you notice reduced braking performance, you must get the tyres replaced, as it is a clear indication of inadequate tread depth and reduced performance.

Wheel alignment and balancing issues

Another significant sign is when you can be facing wheel alignment and balancing issues. The misalignment and balancing issues can cause quick wear down of tyres and even result in tread wear. Therefore, if these issues have resulted in the need to change one or more car tires, you need to replace them all with new ones. If you continue with half old and half new tires, they will again result in misalignment issues and the cycle will keep going on. So, as soon as you replace one due to balancing and misalignment problems, replace all four.

Do I Really Need to Replace All Four tyres at The Same Time?

What if one or more of your car tyres still have some life left? Do you replace all tyres at once, or do the replacement in sets? Let’s find out.

Situation A: Replacing all four tyres

In case all tyres are showing equal or near equal amounts of tread wear, it’s a good idea to replace all four tyres. Replacing all tyres ensures that all wheels have the same level of traction, tread design, and structural stability. Thus, the tyres react uniformly on the road and add stability to the drive.

Also, replacing all tyres at once is generally recommended for all-wheel-drive cars, as the car sensors and differential work in sync. Variation in tread levels can indicate incorrect readings to the tachometer and burden the powertrain.

Situation B: Replacing one or two tyres

Replacing a single tyre is not recommended. It’s like going for a run with a pair of different-sized shoes. However, single tyre replacements are uncommon and the most likely scenario where you need one is due to impact damage. Even in such instances, we advise replacing both tyres on the axle. If the other tyre is fairly new or has some life left, you can always avail a tyre exchange discount.

When replacing two tyres, follow the same rule, replace tyres by axle and not by side. If one front tyre and one rear tyre needs replacement, then it’s better to replace all four.

In conclusion

Always keep a check on your car tyres before journeying. Mismatched tread wear can happen due to wheel alignment and balancing issues, so make sure your car’s service cycle includes tyre care as well. If you are looking for a new set of car tyres, you can now purchase Apollo Tyres online at shop.apollotyres.com. Our full-service e-shop offers hassle-free tyre replacement with a buy online fit offline model, and a range of auxiliary tyre care services such as nitrogen filling, wheel rotation, balancing and an alignment check. You can do that anytime by visiting an Apollo Tyres shop nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check my tyres for wear?

Experts recommend checking your tyres regularly to identify any signs of wear or damage. Checking them once a month, especially before long trips, is essential to ensure optimum performance and safety.

How do I measure tyre tread depth?

You can use a tread depth gauge or the Penny test to measure tread depth. However, for accurate measurements, it is always better to seek assistance from a professional.

Can I still use my tyres if they are past the recommended age?

Using tyres past their recommended age is not safe. Even if your vehicle has not run as many kilometres as suggested, the ageing of your tyres will wear them down. Therefore, tire replacement must be done when they pass the recommended age.

What is the tyre life for cars on Indian roads?

Generally, the life of tyres on Indian roads is up to 50,000 kilometres or six years. However, it depends on the quality of the tyres and the manufacturer you are buying from. For example, if you are buying from Apollo Tyres, the age of your tyres will be up to 1 lakh kilometres.

How do I choose the right tyres for my vehicle?

When buying new tyres for your vehicle, you must consider several factors as listed below:

• Warranty
• Date of Manufacture
• Rim Size
• Tread Width
• Tyre Size
• Tube-Type or Tubeless
• Sidewall Height
• Tread Pattern

Can I replace just one tyre, or do I need to replace all four at once?

If the condition of all the other tyres is top-notch, replacing one is acceptable. However, if all of them are old and wear down more than 70%, replace them all to avoid a varying grip at each end of your vehicle.

What things should I keep in mind while replacing my car tyres?

When replacing tires, you must consider treadwear, correct tire size, load and speed range, traction requirement, and temperature performance.