Illegal Tyres

Illegal Tyres, What To Watch Out For

Tyres play such an important factor in a vehicle’s function and ensuring they are in top condition keeps you driving in a safe environment. There are many factors that can have a detrimental effect on a tyres performance, and to make sure you are able to spot them all easily, it is important that frequent checks are carried out. It can be easy to carry out tyre checks if you know what you’re looking for, so here is a beginners guide.

Tyre pressure

Tyre pressure is a factor that most are familiar with. Each vehicle shall have a recommended tyre pressure for the weight of the vehicle that will either be within the cars manual or in some cars, within the interior doors. Both under inflated and over inflated can cause some serious problems when driving

Over inflated tyres

Bad traction
More difficulty with handling
Poorer braking quality
Uneven tread wear

Under inflated tyres

Poor handling of the vehicle
Uneven tread wear
Increasing braking distances especially in wet weather
Increasing fuel consumption
Damage to alloys

Unsuitable tread depth

Low tread depth is one of the most frequent tyre problems that occurs with natural wear and tear. In the UK the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. If your tread depth is below this legal requirement, you can find a £2500 per tyre fine along with 3 points on your licence. If your tyres are looking like they have endured some excessive wear during usage, it is always best to check, new tyres cost less than a police fine!

Sidewall damage

Bulging tyres: this is caused by driving at high speeds over objects such as potholes. You may be more vulnerable to bulging tyres if your tyres are overinflated.
Cut tyres: sometimes we just do not know what is going to be lying on the road. Things such as glass, debris and nails can all create punctures and slashes in tyres that quickly cause under inflation.
Cracked tyres: this happens to all kinds of tyres even those kept in best condition. UV rays and extreme temperatures can speed up the ageing process of a tyre, and therefore those that store their car in a garage may notice this process is much slower