Ways to spot when it’s time to change your tyres

Bidvest Insurance outlines ways to spot when it’s time to change your tyres. It’s recommended you do not use your tyres for more than three years, or 40,000 kilometres. When the tread depth is less than 1.6 millimetres, you must change your tyres. Check the physical age of any car tyre by examining the markings on the tyre sidewall. And, of course, get Tyre and Rim Insurance from Bidvest Insurance.

As tedious as it might seem, you need to know when it’s time to change your car’s tyres. 

Routine checks are the best way to save yourself money in the long run. While obtaining Tyre and Rim Insurance from Bidvest Insurance is important, there are more ways to keep your tyres in tip-top shape too. As part of these routine checks, none are as important as checking the condition of your tyres. Here are a few things you need to keep a lookout for:

Ensure good grip 

Your car needs good grip. To make sure that your tyres keep you on the road at all times, they need to have good grip. To get the most out of your grip, you need to make sure that your tyres have a good amount of tread on them. When the tread depth is less than 1.6 millimetres – the legal limit – you are required to change your tyres. 

Check for wear

There are instances when asymmetric tyre wear happens. This means that your tyres have different tread wear. Different tread wear is usually caused by a misaligned or damaged suspension. It’s important to check each tyre individually, even if they were all bought at the same time. Tyre Angel provides you with wheel balancing and alignment every 12 months.

Watch the cracks

You may not drive your car much, and you may think that your tyre tread is fine. Old tyres may have tread and look good, however, old tyres tend to get hard and start to crack. These cracks might be normal wear and tear, but if you start to see cracks on the side, it is better to go get these checked.

Check your tyre age

Regardless of how well and carefully you drive, time will always be a factor. Over time the condition of your tyres start to deteriorate. For your safety, you will need to replace your tyres. As a rule of thumb, do not use your tyres for more than three years or 40,000 kilometres. You can check the physical age of any car tyre by examining the markings on the tyre sidewall.

When in doubt, get Tyre and Rim Insurance

Tyre and Rim Insurance from Bidvest Insurance provides you with cover for accidental damages to your tyres and rims caused by road hazards. From as little as R95 per month, you can protect your car from some of the dangers you’ll find on South African roads. Get Tyre and Rim Insurance today.