Why Regular Tyre Care Should Not Be Ignored

Last updated on June 8th, 2024 at 10:01 am

Your tyres are the only part of your car that touches the road, and this makes good tyre care a very important feature in your regular car maintenance practices. Let’s take a look at why regular tyre care should not be ignored.

They Are Degradable

Car tyres are made from rubber and, as such, they are a natural product – and like all natural products they tend to break down over time. This means that even if you are rigorous with your tyre care, they will slowly deteriorate – and this will happen much faster if you are careless of your tyres while driving! You can make your tyres last longer by buying the best quality tyres that you can afford, and driving with care and attention at all times; but even the best quality, most lightly used tyres will inevitably begin to show signs of ageing within five years or so of constant use. If you are planning to travel around Scotland this summer, choose your tyres in Kirkcaldy from Fife Autocentre and they will locally fit your tyres to ensure your travels are uninterrupted by punctures or blow-outs.

They Get You There and Back

No matter whether you are driving to London to spend a week or so exploring the many landmarks and museums of the city (the Natural History Museum is a firm favourite and it is handy to the Science Museum and the V&A, both of which are also worth spending some contemplative time exploring) or to beautiful Kirkcaldy in Fife, Scotland (where you can explore the Old Kirk, visit Holyrood Palace or simply stroll through the grounds of the many castles and stately homes in the area) your tyres will deliver you safely to your destination and then back home again, if they are regularly checked and kept in great condition.

They Keep You Safe

If you keep them in good condition! Looking after your tyres is the most basic precaution you can take towards ensuring your safety on the UK’s busy road network. Tyre issues can impact everything from your ability to steer and stop safely in traffic, so it is important to check them often to make sure that no damage or deterioration has taken place since your last check up – or your last long trip!

It’s a Legal Requirement!

Having your tyres in good working order is such an important feature that it has now (as of 2018) been included in the annual MOT roadworthiness test that all vehicles over three years old must take to prove their safety. Your tyres should not only be in good condition, but the MOT also looks for:

• Correct tyre inflation: your tyres must be maintained at the optimum levels recommended by the tyre manufacturer, at all times

• Legal tread depth: the legal limit is to have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth over the central three-quarters of the tyres’ contact surface but mechanics and other motoring experts recommend aiming for 3mm of tread depth over the entire contact surface for greater peace of mind

• General condition of the tyre: there should be no obvious signs of damage to the tyre. These can include missing chunks of rubber, cracks and splits in the material, dimples, bulges or dents in the sidewall, and, of course, the frequent occurrence of punctures or leaks

In short, if you look after your tyres, they will look after you while you travel the length and breadth of the country, from Scotland to London, or even from Liverpool to Newcastle – no matter where you are travelling and why, pay attention to your tyres: one day you may be very glad you did!