Car tyres ensure the safety and quality of your ride, which makes them one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Regular maintenance can reduce the risk of premature wear and adds more miles to a tyre’s life, but even that doesn’t guarantee that it will not suffer a blowout in challenging weather or road conditions.
In the Middle East, bad weather conditions such as sandstorms, heavy rain, dense fog in winters and intense heat in summer can expose the vulnerability of poorly maintained or old tyres. In the summer season, roads absorb intolerable levels of heat, which makes old and poorly maintained tyres vulnerable to a puncture. A tyre blowout can even be deadly, which is why motorists must take safety precautions to avoid such a situation.
Let’s explore the signs that can clearly tell whether it’s the right time to change your car tyres:
1. You can see the metal
If you can see even a glimmer of metal in your car tyres, it is a clear sign that you need to buy a new set of tyres. If delayed, this can be dangerous and puts the safety of the car’s occupants at a serious threat, especially while driving in the summer season. Such damage to the rubber surface can result from exposure of car tyres to uneven roads or due to contact with a sharp physical object. This damage can intensify at a rapid rate and have a bad effect on the tyre tread. If tyres are not changed in time, it can lead to a sudden tyre blowout, which, on a busy road, can have dangerous consequences.
2. You spot weather cracks and sidewall bulges
As tyres either age or are exposed to extreme weather conditions, the rubber begins to lose elasticity and cracks appear on the surface. Some cracking might not mean you need new tyres, but if you notice a lot of splintering, it’s a good idea to take your car to a professional who can help you determine if you need new tyres. You should also be on the lookout for any noticeable cracks on the tyre sidewalls. If you see any abnormal bulges or bubbles, take your tyres to a shop immediately.
3. Your car pulls to one side
If this happens while driving, it’s an indicator of poor wheel alignment that mostly occurs because of the uneven wear and tear experienced by all tyres. The uneven wear results from lack of basic tyre maintenance, delayed rotation of car tyres, or because all the tyres have not been replaced at the same time.
4. Your tyres have done over 80,000 km or are over 5 years’ old
There is no legitimate criterion to judge the health of car tyres based on their calendar age, but the rule of thumb suggests that the older the tyres are, and the more they are used, the greater their vulnerability to a blowout in challenging road or weather conditions. After five years or more in use, your tyres should be thoroughly inspected at least once a year by a professional.
5. Repetitive damage to tyres
If the tyres of your car suffer repetitive damage from exposure to sharp objects like rocks and nails or by striking against potholes or speed bumps, it is imperative that you get your tyres inspected. A tyre that has sustained multiple damages over a period of time becomes vulnerable to even the smallest of road challenges, poor driving style or adversities of extreme weather.
6. Tread wear bars
Another easy way to check the condition of your tyres is by a visual inspection of the tread wear bars. These bars, are placed by the factory in the middle of the tyre tread. When tyres are new, the raised bars, which run perpendicular to the tread, are barely visible. But as you pack on the miles, the bars become more visible and once they are level with the tyre tread, it’s time to get new tyres.
Old and worn out tyres put the safety of passengers at risk. Regular inspection of car tyres can keep you informed of your car tyres’ current condition, which can help you decide when to opt for replacement of tyres. Getting the tyres changed at the right time can keep you from a dangerous tyre blowout situation and ensure the safety of your ride.
