Tyre Age
Time to change your tyres? - Tyre Age
Many drivers aren't aware of when the optimum time to replace their tyres is, you may notice a deterioration of perfromance as your tyres wear but how do you know when you should actually replace a tyre? Even fewer are aware that through some simple checks and regular maintenance you can significantly improve the performance and longevity of your tyres, giving you the very best value for your money. However, every motorist is fully aware of just how expensive owning and driving a car is. With this in mind, the tyre experts at Michelin have created some simple guides to make sure you get the very best performance and life from your tyres.
Tyre Care - Tyre Age
Tyres last longer with regular checks
Standard car / van tyres are designed to be adequately filled with air, if they are not used at the correct pressure you are increasing the risk of damage to the tyre and may reduce the performance and overall life of the tyre. Make sure you check your tyre pressures monthly and before any long trip. At the same time, its important to check the tyre tread depths, and look for any signs of damage to the sidewall, or strange or irregular wear of the tyre tread. If you are in any doubt, speak to us and we will be able to talk you through whether you should come into one of the centres our depot to check if your tyres are suitable for further use.
Reasons to change my tyres - Can tyres be too old?
It is impossible to predict how long a tyre will survive for. It does’t matter when the tyres were made. Tyres actually age even when not used, or if only used occasionally. There are many factors that will affect the life of the tyre such as temperature, maintenance, conditions of storage and use, load, speed, pressure as well as driving style. These factors all have an impact on the length of service life you can expect from your tyres.
Check your tyres regularly
For these reasons, Michelin recommends that all drivers pay regular attention to the external appearance of their tyres for clear signs of aging or fatigue. This can include cracking of the rubber or deformation, etc. Excessive aging of tyres may lead to loss of grip. Michelin also recommends all tyres, including the spare, are inspected regularly by a tyre specialist. They can tell you whether your tyres should continue in service.
How old is too old? The five year test
After five years or more in service, your tyres should be thoroughly inspected at least once per year. If the need arises, follow the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer regarding replacing the original equipment tyres. As a precaution, if the tyres have not been replaced 10 years from their date of manufacture (see how to read a tyre sidewall), Michelin recommends replacing them with new tyres. Even if they appear to be in usable condition and have not worn down to the tread wear indicator.
