When to Change Tyres?
When is the best time to change tyres?
Although there are different opinions about the service life of tyres in various sources ranging from 4 years to 40 thousand kilometres , the service life of the tyre actually depends on many factors such as storage conditions, design, driver habits, road and climatic conditions to which the tyre is exposed. Therefore, it is not possible to say anything definitive about tyre life.
Many people fit summer tyres when the average daytime temperature is around 7 degrees. However, this is not always the case. When monitoring temperatures in early spring, you should pay attention to the situation at night - whether the road surface is still frozen. If you go out on such a road with summer tyres, the chances of sliding uncontrollably increase significantly. For this reason, only sign up for a tyre change after two consecutive weeks of positive temperatures even at night.
Winter tyres in Spring?
It is important to know that winter tyre wear is higher when driving in sport mode, when the temperature rises above 7 degrees. This is because the compound used to make a winter tyre is softer. This makes the tyre grip the road surface better, which is particularly important on snow or ice where grip is less good.
However, at normal speeds in plus temperatures, the tyre wears no more than in winter conditions. You'll appreciate its safety in the event of an unexpected morning cold snap, which can happen even in April.
When to buy new tyres?
When replacing tyres in spring, the first thing to check is the winter tyres that have been removed. If they are no longer suitable for the next season, it is better to buy a new set during the summer season. Pay attention to the condition of the tread wear and the date of manufacture.
In order to decide when it is time to change our tyres, there are important factors to consider:
1° Tyre age
In general it is said that tyres have an approximate lifespan of 10 years and 32 000 km.
If your tyres are more than 10 years old, you should think about buying new ones before the season. With a budget, cheaper tyres, even when the air temperature rises above 7 degrees, the rubber can lose its properties and not provide the necessary safety. In addition, tyres that we have used for 5 years or more should be checked at least once a year by a specialised service centre.
Visible signs of ageing: Many factors can affect the life of a tyre, such as weather conditions, storage and use conditions, load, speed, pressure, maintenance, etc.
2° Low or illegal tyre tread depth
When tyres are new, the tread depth is about 8 to 9mm. It is legal to drive until the tread depth reaches 1.6 mm. Tread depth strongly affects the grip with the road surface, and the deeper it is, the more grip the driver has. Tyres must be changed when tread depth is under 1.6 mm.
According to the Road Traffic Regulations, it is forbidden to drive with winter tyres with a tread depth less than 3 mm. Water or snow will not be able to escape optimally from under the tyre if the grooves are too shallow.
3° Uneven or excessive wear
Excessive tread wear can lead to mechanical problems in some areas, such as misalignment, balancing, suspension or gearbox problems. Worn tread: summer tyres are worn down to 1.6 mm and winter tyres to 3 mm. In addition, the difference between the main channels (grooves) of the tyre on one axle must not exceed 5 mm in depth.
4°Tyre damage
If you run over a pavement or other obstacle on the road, your tyre may be damaged, i.e. cracked, deformed, scratched or cut. Some tyre damage can be repaired, but it must be checked by a professional.
5° Tyre puncture
In case of a tyre puncture, it is best to get it repaired by a tyre specialist. Normally, a lot of punctures can be repaired.
The puncture is repairable if :
- It is located in the main tread of the tyre
- If the puncture is less than 5mm in diameter
The tyre is not repairable and must be changed if :
- the puncture exceeds 5mm in diameter
- the safety is at risk from the puncture due to damage on the inside of the tyre
- there is other damage to the tyre besides the puncture
- it is not safe anymore because of too many pictures and repairs or because it is too worn
6° Incorrect tyre selection for the vehicle
If you are not sure whether your tyres are correctly selected, get advice from an expert.
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Get a quoteMore FAQs
How long does it take to change tyres?
Generally, if done correctly by a tyre specialist, it takes about 10 minutes for each tyre, between 30 and 45 minutes for all four tyres.
What is the lifespan of a tyre in km?
If the car is driven regularly, the average lifespan is between 25 000 and 50 000 kilometres. However, misaligned wheels or unbalanced wheels, underinflation, the road conditions, an aggressive driving lifestyle will reduce the lifespan as it damages the tyres faster.
Should I change all 4 tyres at once?
It is optimal to change them all at once. There can be the risk of imbalance when changing one tyre and not the either one on the opposite side. The dangers are wheel misalignment and excessive tyre wear because tyres deteriorate at different speeds. Although, in the case of tyre repair due to puncture or a flat tyre, it is normal to change only one tyre but make sure that the rest of the tyres aren’t showing signs of wear or damage. It is therefore advisable to change tyres in pairs if possible.
Where is it better to put new tyres?
Front-wheel drive vehicles have more wear on the front tyres, while rear-wheel drive vehicles have more wear on the rear tyres. Manufacturers recommend replacing either the two front wheels or the two rear wheels. However, it is not always necessary to put new tyres where the older ones used to be. When you need to change the tyres, take a look at where the vehicle has the most wear and decide accordingly.
How do I check tyre life?
The 4-digit stamp on the side of the tyre indicates when the tyre was made. The first 2 digits indicate the week, and the last 2 digits indicate the year of manufacture of the tyre. For example, 3419 means that the tyre was manufactured in the 34th week of 2019. The life of your tyres depends mainly on your driving style. Strong driving and braking damage the tyre faster than smoother driving. To make it easier and safer if your tyres need to be replaced, see the wear indicators on their tread.
