Among the most important components of your car are its tyres. It’s these flexible, deformable rubber rings that actually come into contact with the surface of the road. When they’re in good condition, they’ll ensure that you can accelerate, brake and steer the vehicle, and have it respond appropriately. As they deteriorate, however, you’ll surely begin to run into problems.

For this reason, it’s critical that you look out for signs of wear, and take action to get your tyres replaced as soon as is necessary. For maximum longevity, it’s worth looking specifically for tyres from reputable brands like Michelin.

So, what are the warning signs that a new set of tyres is due?

Repeated pressure loss

If you find that you’re having to constantly re-inflate your tyres to get them up to the required pressure, it could be a sign that you’ve got a slow puncture. These are more difficult to spot than the major punctures, but in the long term, their consequences are just the same.

If you prefer to fix a slow puncture, then you’ll need to get the tyre submerged in water and watch for any bubbles that come out. In many cases, however, the best way to deal with these is to look for a replacement.

Worn tread

If the tread depth on your tyres has fallen below the legal limit of 1.6mm, then it’s time to look for a replacement immediately. But even if it hasn’t, your car might suffer from a significant loss of traction. Look for patterns in your wear – if the tyre is wearing uniformly, it could be a sign that they’re incorrectly inflated, or that your steering is misaligned. Bear in mind that it’s a criminal offence to drive on over-worn tyres.

Unusual vibrations

If you can feel strange rumblings coming up from below you while you’re driving, it might be a sign that the tyres aren’t absorbing all of those little bumps and grinds as they should. If the problem persists and seems to worsen over time, then it might be a sign that you need to get it looked at professionally, at the very least.

Sidewall cracks

The sidewall of a tyre is there to support the weight of the vehicle. When it becomes damaged, then it might be at risk of suddenly collapsing. If this failure occurs when the car is in motion, then the results can be catastrophic. As such, it’s worth conducting the occasional visual inspection to ensure that everything is in good condition.

Ageing tyres

Tyres don’t last forever. Even if yours seem to be in fairly respectable condition, it might be worth getting them replaced if they’re any older than 5 to 6 years. The rubber can degrade naturally even if you aren’t driving regularly, due to exposure to the outside world.

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