Essential Guide: Identifying Worn-Out Tyres for Safety

• 1) Check Tread Depth

  → All tyres, car or bike, lose a certain amount of tread rubber after their daily usage. Over time and exhaustion, the tread wears down to the accepted minimum level. When you lose that much tread on your tyre, its grip and stability get compromised. This, in turn, paves the way for:

  • an increased braking distance

  • skidding of the vehicle upon sudden braking

  • more possibility of aquaplaning in wet conditions

  → So you must always ensure that your tyre's tread is above the minimum level of tread depth, which is 1.6mm. Here's an easy way to do that:

  -          Your tyres come installed with a treadwear indicator (TWI), a small rubber piece marking, within the grooves.

  -          After prolonged usage, the tyre tread reaches this TWI level. This is a definite sign that you need to replace the tyre. But if your tyre's tread hasn't worn out enough to reach the level of the indicator, you should be good to go.

• 2) Check Sidewall

  → Just adjacent to the tread is the sidewall of a tyre. You will need to bend down to look for cuts and cracks at the sidewall. In case the sidewall has suffered any such issues, you should be able to spot them easily.

  → Feel the sidewall for any bulges. A tyre bulge can be a sign of internal damage to the tyre. Your vehicle runs over potholes or uneven surfaces on Indian roads regularly. This can lead to internal damage to your tyre.

  → Driving with an outward bulge is always unsafe and may result in a tyre blowout. If your tyre has such a bulge, replace it immediately!

  → Similarly, large cracks and deep bruises also call for a tyre change. They may allow air pressure leakage, which will only increase with time.

  → A thorough glance at the tyre after a long trip, or during a routine check, should be enough to identify any issue related to the sidewall.    

• 3) Check For Uneven Wear

  → A tyre wears unevenly due to these reasons: 

  • Careless driving habits.

  • Problems with your vehicle's suspension.

  • Wheel imbalance

  • Ill maintenance of pressure levels

  → Uneven tyre wear is a common issue and can be often overlooked. But here's why you shouldn't let it go unchecked: it leads to premature balding of the tread.

  → The easiest way to prevent this is to examine your tyres routinely.

  - Check for wear pattern both on the across the tread area of every tyre. If you notice balanced wearing, your tyres are in the clear.

  - But, if one side looks like it is taking all the heat, compared to the other side of the tyre, watch out. The issue could be with the vehicle's suspension or tyre imbalance.

  - Continuing to run a tyre with uneven wear will hamper with the vehicle's handling and braking. You may experience vibrations during the ride too.

  - Over or underinflated tyres can also experience uneven wear. Remember to follow the recommended tyre pressure levels at all times.

  If you spot any of the above issues in your vehicle's tyres, be assured that the wheels crave for a change or repair. But repair what you can and replace what you can't. To replace the tyres, you can find a variety of tyres online or visit a nearby tyre shop. Not sure which brand fits the best? Try CEAT tyres. CEAT tyres deliver convenience and performance to all its customers with their tyre range and competitive pricing. Head to the website to learn more!