Unfortunately, everything has a shelf life and that includes your vehicle’s tyres. If tyres aren’t in top condition, they affect your vehicle’s performance and in some cases, cause accidents.

It’s important to keep an eye on your tyres on a regular basis, but we advise changing them when you notice a range of warning signs.

Too much vibration

It’s normal for a certain amount of vibration, especially when you’re driving on poorly paved roads, but too much can ring alarm bells. Being used to your vehicle, you’ll know how much vibration feels normal/abnormal.

There are a few reasons for the vibration, including:

• Your tyres being unbalanced or misaligned
• Your shock absorbers are starting to go
• An internal problem in the tyre

If you notice that there’s more vibration than usual, get it checked out as soon as possible as it can cause serious damage to the tyre.

Bulges and blisters

Over time, the outer surface of your tyre begins to weaken and can start to bulge or blister. Not only will your tyre become damaged, but it’ll also become a safety hazard. Without any treatment, the affected area can cause the tyre to have a sudden blow out, putting you, passengers and other drivers at risk.

As soon as you come across any bulges or blisters, we highly recommend getting your tyre(s) changed straight away.

Cracks on the sidewall

We always recommend keeping an eye on your tyres’ condition, especially when you’re driving regularly. Unlike many other warning signs, it’s really easy to spot any cracks that may appear in the sidewall. If you come across any cuts or tracks, this may be a sign that it’s developing a leak and (like bulges and blisters) could cause a blow out.

It’s better to be safe than sorry and even if your vehicle isn’t due a service anytime soon, get it to the maintenance guys for an expert opinion.

Tread depth

The tread depth of your tyres should never be lower than 1.6mm and many vehicle manufacturers recommend replacing tyres at 3mm. As your tyres’ tread depth reduces, so does its ability to remove water from the road surface. This increases the risk of aquaplaning and also increases the vehicle’s stopping distance.

Regularly checking your tyres can help avoid any accidents, as well as points and fines. If you’d like to keep a close eye on your tyres, you can invest in a tread depth gauge.

A puncture

Yes, it’s an obvious one, but it has to be covered! Most tyres nowadays are high quality, however, even the most premium types can’t win with a puncture. There are slow and fast punctures, but it won’t be too long before it’s noticeable.

Once you do, there’s no other alternative than to take your vehicle to the experts. Here they can decide if it’s repairable or whether it needs to be replaced.

At Fourways Vehicle Solutions we ensure that all of our tyres are safety checked regularly, making sure that they adhere to our high standards. If you’d like to know more about our vehicles, feel free to get in touch.