How to Tell When You Need New Tyres

Tuesday 24 June 2025

Your tyres are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. They maximise grip on the road, enhance handling and braking and enable you to travel smoothly and comfortably. Taking good care of your tyres is crucial for many reasons. Safety should always be a top priority, but maintaining good tyre health can also help you lower repair costs, reduce the risk of damage and accelerated wear and improve your driving experience.

In this essential guide to tyre checks and maintenance, we’ll discuss common signs of tyre damage, highlighting indicators that tell you when to replace tyres or seek professional advice.

Understanding Tread Wear

The tread pattern on your tyres optimises grip, braking and handling. It is the deep, grooved pattern in the rubber of the tyres, which makes contact with the road surface. Understanding the impact of tread wear is critical for drivers. If your tyres are worn, the tread depth reduces, increasing the risk of slipping, skidding and losing control of the vehicle.

It’s important to check tyre tread depth frequently not only for safety reasons but also to ensure your tyres are legal. In Australia, the minimum legal limit for tyre tread depth is 1.5mm.

How to check your tread depth

There are various ways to check your tread depth, including:

1. Checking the TWI (Tread Wear Indicator): Most vehicles now have TWIs on the sidewall of the tyres. If the TWI is flush with the tread, this means your tyres need replacing.
2. Checking with a coin: A quick and easy way to check your tyre tread is using a 20 cent coin. Place the coin inside the main central groove and see where the platypus’ bill sits. If it’s hidden, the tread depth is fine. If the bill is visible, the tread is too low and the tyres need swapping.
3. Using a tyre depth gauge: A tyre depth gauge will give you an accurate reading of your tread depth.

Cracks and Bulges

Cracks and bulges can develop in the sidewall of the tyres. This weakens the structure of the tyre, increasing the risk of blowouts, accelerating wear and impacting handling and driver safety. If you spot visible signs of cracks or bulges on your tyres, it’s important to seek professional advice.

Common causes of tyre cracks and bulges include:

• Potholes
• Uneven, rough road surfaces
• Crashes and collisions with pavements, speed bumps and kerbs
• UV exposure and extreme heat
• Over or under-inflation
• Ageing

Vibration While Driving

If you feel vibrations when you’re driving, there are several possible causes, including tyre problems, such as

• Uneven tyre wear
• Low pressure in your tyres
• A flat tyre and damaged
• Worn tyres

If you experience a bumpy ride, it’s worth getting your vehicle checked out to inspect the tyres and explore other possible causes. If your tyres are fine, other issues that cause vibrations while driving include wheel misalignment and problems with your suspension.

Age of Tyres

The age of your tyres can make them more vulnerable to wear and damage. Tyres have a finite lifespan. Even if your vehicle has low mileage, your tyres can still degrade.

The life expectancy of tyres varies hugely, depending on what type of vehicle you drive, how you use your car and the make and type of your tyres. Typically, tyres last between 3-5 years or 20,000 to 60,000 miles. Front tyres often last longer than back tyres.

Driving on rough roads and uneven surfaces, aggressive driving and using high-performance tyres can reduce the average lifespan.

Wet Weather Performance

When it’s wet on the roads, problems with your tyres may become more noticeable. Common signs you may detect in wet weather include:

• A lack of grip
• Reduced feeling of control
• Increased stopping distance
• Loss of traction
• Skidding

Driving in wet conditions can be more dangerous even if your tyres are in tip-top condition. If your tyres are worn or damaged, or they don’t meet the legal requirements for tread depth, the risk of skidding and losing control rises. You may also find that it takes you longer to stop than usual, which increases the risk of accidents.

Worried About Your Tyres? Get a Free Tyre Inspection!

If you’re worried about your tyres, or it’s been a while since you checked them, the safest thing to do is seek professional advice.

If in doubt, book a free tyre inspection with All Coast Tyre Solutions. Click here to contact us now or book an inspection online at https://www.allcoasttyres.com.au/book-online.