The law is very specific about the tires. It’s such an important part of car maintenance to ensure that all tires are in good condition that to drive with defective tires carries a high penalty. Every year a lot of people are caught out for not knowing that they are breaking the law in relation to the condition of their tires – however ignorance is not an excuse. It won’t stop you from being involved in an accident and it won’t stop you from ending up with a hefty fine and penalty points on your license.
The legislation says that it is a driver of vehicle who is responsible to make sure that it is roadworthy and you are liable to face legal action if you do not do so. The tire tread helps you to stop quickly in emergency situation. Sometimes you can tell by looking that a vehicle has “bald” tires, but on the other hand, it can be really hard to tell just by sight alone – especially if it’s a close call. However if you are stopped by a police officer and your tire tread is below the legal limit which is 1,6 mm, then you?ll face punishment. That’s why it is very important for every driver to check regularly the condition of the tire tread as it must be road worthy and safe.
How to Check the Tire Tread
All passenger tires are equipped with little bars moulded into the tread called “tread wear indicator bars”. One can find them in the tread grooves, near the bottom and in several locations on the tire. If you look for these bars and find that the tire is worn so that any of them are now lying flush with the tread ribs, then you need to replace your tire as soon as you can. If you can’t define or need a professional opinion, you’d better go to a garage – there the help of this kind is usually free.
Under-Inflated Tires
If your tire is worn on both sides this means that it is likely that your tire is under inflated. This reduces the life of the tires as it wears away the outside edges of the tire and plays havoc with the tire durability because the edges get too hot. Having such tires makes your car work harder increasing the rolling resistance and makes you use more fuel than you should do. But if your tire pressure is fine get your car to the service station as there is some other reason of wearing your tire tread.
Over Inflated Tires
In case of excessive wear and tear in the centre of the tire this means that the tire is over inflated as this makes the middle of the tire load bearing and therefore runs it down faster than the rest of it. This reduces the life of your tire, leads to the expensive repair or even to accident. Again, it could be a misalignment issue so if the tire pressure is ok, get professional advice.
Worn Areas on the Tire Tread
Scalloping, dipping or cupping are the dips in the tread usually found on the front tire. They are the sign that the wheels may not be balanced correctly, or that the steering and suspension systems need to be checked out.
Unbalanced Tires
Unbalanced tires lead to a problem with not only a vehicle’s suspension system and tires, but also to the driver as the constant vibration can lead to fatigue. That’s why if you feel any vibration while driving, check whether your tires are properly balanced as soon as you can.
If You Find a Problem
In the event you have problems with your tires – don’t panic. It might be possible to save the tire but you must go to a professional tire fitter so that they can measure the damage and make sure that it is within the legal guidelines for repairing and replacing tires.