60-second summary
Here’s your rapid lowdown on tyre maintenance:
Potential penalties: Overworn tyres can lead to fines, penalty points and MOT failure.
Good habits: Regularly inspect tyres for damage, rotate them and consider seasonal tyres for better performance.
Key checks: Check tread depth and maintain the right tyre pressure to avoid uneven wear, poor handling and higher fuel costs.
Avoid invalidation: Unsafe tyres could invalidate insurance. Consider replacing them when the tread drops below 3 mm.
Why should I maintain tyre care?
Keeping your tyres in good condition is vital to keep you safe on the road by improving grip, assisting with steering and helping you brake more effectively. It also helps you to be more efficient, saving you money on fuel.
Then there’s the law. If your tyres don’t meet legal standards, you could get a fine and receive points on your licence.
With this in mind, here are some tyre care tips to keep you and your car safe.
Tread depth
The tread depth of your tyres can seriously compromise your vehicle’s traction and grip, especially when driving in the rain, snow or ice.
Legally, the minimum tread depth required for car tyres is 1.6mm. Any less, and your car will fail its MOT.
Driving with bald tyres is not only dangerous; it’s an offence. If you’re stopped by the police, an illegal tyre could result in a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and three penalty points on your licence.
This could also mean an increase in your car insurance premiums.
The 20 pence check
A simple way to check your tyre tread depth, is to use a 20p coin.
Insert the coin into the main grooves in several places around the entire tyre.
The outer band of a 20p coin is 1.6mm. When you insert it into the grooves, this outer rim of the coin should not be visible.
If you can see part of the coin rim, your tyres may need replacing. Get them checked out by a qualified tyre specialist.
Check your pressure regularly
It’s important you check your tyre pressure regularly. This is because under or over-inflated tyres can seriously affect your car’s steering, handling and braking distance. The wrong tyre pressure will also result in higher fuel consumption and accelerate wear and tear.
It’s recommended to check your tyre pressure once a month, as well as before long journeys or when planning to drive with a heavy load. You can check your tyre pressure at most petrol stations, or you can do it at home if you have pressure gauge.
When checking your tyre pressure, the tyres should be cold.
What pressure should my tyres be?
You should find the manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure level in the vehicle handbook. It’s often displayed in the car too, typically on the driver’s door frame. Alternatively, you should be able to find out online.
How do underinflated tyres affect my car?
Under-inflated tyres can seriously affect your car’s performance. This makes it very dangerous to drive. Here’s why:
Less responsive steering: Without enough pressure, a tyre becomes slack and loses some of its shape. When this happens, your wheels require more effort to turn. This means your steering isn’t as reactive as it should be, forcing you to turn your steering wheel further. This is very dangerous.
Increased tyre wear: Underinflation can cause tyres to become misshapen, as there isn’t enough pressure inside to hold them in shape. As the edges of the tyre bulge out, they wear out faster than the middle and could even burst completely.
Higher fuel consumption: Underinflated tyres have more contact with the road which causes more surface friction, reducing efficiency. This means your car is having to work harder to keep moving and so uses more fuel.
How do overinflated tyres affect my car?
Overinflated tyres can also be a hazard. Here’s what you need to look out for:
Reduced handling: An overinflated tyre doesn’t have enough contact with the road and this can affect the handling and reduces its grip on the road.
Increased tyre wear: With an overinflated tyre, the middle of the tyre is more in contact with the road than the sides. This means that the middle may wear out more quickly, forcing you to change tyres more regularly.
Higher risk of tyre blowout: An overinflated tyre has too much pressure inside. If it’s high enough, it doesn’t take as much to cause a blowout. A tyre blowout would be highly dangerous to you and other drivers.
More tyre maintenance tips
Look for any damage
When checking tyre pressure and tread depth, give your tyres a quick once over. Look for punctures, cuts, bulges or any signs of wear. If something looks off, get a specialist to check it out. Some tyres can be fixed but others may need replacing.
Be aware of your driving habits
The way you drive can affect your tyres’ lifespan. Avoid harsh braking, speeding and rough roads. Take it easy over speed bumps and be gentle if you have to mount the kerb.
Check your wheel alignment
Misaligned wheels can cause uneven wear on tyres and shaky steering. If you notice either, get your tyres checked at your local garage. You can compare garages near you and see if you could save on the cost of any repairs.
Don't overload your car
Try to avoid overloading your car as it can strain and weaken your tyres, especially if they’re under-inflated. If you check your tyre sidewall, you’ll be able to see the ‘load index number’ which tells you the maximum weight you should be driving with.
Rotate your tyres
Depending on the type of car you drive, your tyres may wear out unevenly. In front or rear-wheel drives swapping the front and rear tyres could extend their life.
In a 4x4, wear is more even since they’re all working similarly. Many newer cars will display individual tyre pressures as part of the driver’s dashboard, so always keep an eye on these.
Use seasonal tyres
Using seasonal tyres could improve your car’s performance, safety, and tyres’ lifespan. Summer tyres work best in warmer conditions, wet or dry, but will wear out more quickly in the cold, while winter tyres stay flexible for better grip. If swapping out your tyres isn’t worth it for you, all-season tyres offer a better balance for both climates.
Don't let your tyres get too old
There’s no law on when to change your car tyres but five or six years is a rough guide as the rubber can gradually wear out and cracks can appear over time. Surprisingly, tyres that aren’t used much can actually age more quickly as they need regular use to stay in good shape.
How do you know how old your tyres are?
Look at the tyre sidewall. You’ll see the letters DOT then a set of numbers. The first two numbers are the week the tyres were manufactured, and the second two are the year. So, for example, 4324 would be the 43rd week of 2024.
Tyre care and car insurance
If you want to keep the costs of your car insurance down, you need to make sure your vehicle is regularly maintained and kept in good condition – and that includes taking care of your tyres.
If you’re involved in an accident while driving with unsafe tyres, your insurance policy could be invalidated.
Find the cheapest MOTs, car services and repairs
Compare garages near you and see if you could save on the cost of MOTs, services and repairs with no upfront payments.
FAQs
Does car insurance cover tyre damage?
Car insurance typically doesn’t cover tyre damage from regular wear and tear.
However, depending on your policy, you may be covered for damage in specific situations such as accidents, vandalism or theft. This can vary between providers and policy type, so it's important to check your policy details, to see what’s covered.
How often should you change your tyres?
Consider replacing your tyres when the tread depth drops below 3 mm, and before it reaches 2 mm. Most tyres wear out from use rather than age, with tread wearing down first.
How do I know if my tyres are wearing out?
Check for low tread depth (below 3 mm), uneven wear, cracks, bulges or vibrations while driving.
Use the 20p test: if the outer band of the coin is visible, it’s time to replace your tyres.
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With more than eight years’ experience in writing and sub-editing content, Karen started her career in fashion before making the move to insurance. She now specialises in producing clear, engaging content that helps people make better financial decisions.
Karen’s areas of expertise include insurance products, such as car insurance, travel insurance and life insurance, as well as utilities such as energy comparison.
Stephen Maunder is an experienced personal finance editor, having spent more than a decade working for consumer print and online titles. He won several industry awards for his personal finance features at Which?, before becoming Deputy Editor at Compare the Market.
Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.
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