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How to check if you need new tyres
As well as keeping your tyres for longer, you'll also save on fuel, enjoy better vehicle handling and, most importantly, stay safer on the road.
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As well as keeping your tyres for longer, you'll also save on fuel, enjoy better vehicle handling and, most importantly, stay safer on the road.
Published
3 min read
Text size
Published
Text size
Look after your tyres well, and in addition to keeping your tyres for longer, you'll also save on fuel, enjoy better vehicle handling and, most importantly, stay safer on the road.
Check and look after your tyre tread
Make sure your tyre tread doesn’t go below the legal 1.5mm limit. Check the wear indicator bars moulded into the tyre tread. If the bars are level with the tread, it's time for new tyres.
To help keep your tyres in good condition, you should avoid scuffing them by hitting kerbs and when parking your car. Remember front tyres on a four-wheel drive can wear two times faster than the rear tyres, so if you’re a four-wheel drive owner, this is an additional consideration when checking the condition of your tyres.
Check your tyre pressure
Under- or over-inflated tyres cause your tyres to wear more quickly, impact the performance and road handling of your vehicle, and in the case of underinflation, will use more fuel.
If your steering feels heavy, pulls to one side or doesn’t respond properly when you turn a corner, your tyres may need air.
You should regularly carry out a simple visual check to see if any of the tyres are looking flat. Some vehicles have a dashboard warning light that will even alert you if any of your tyres need air.
Overinflated tyres can also be an issue as they reduce the tyre's contact patch with the road, leading to increased wear in the centre of the tread, reduced braking performance, and a higher risk of punctures.
To get the longest life from your tyres, remember to:
Check air pressure every month and ensure you only do it when the tyres are cool as cool tyres give a more precise reading.
Maintain the recommended tyre pressures at all times. It should also be detailed in the vehicle manual or on the tyre placard, which is located either on your door pillar, inside the fuel cap, or in the boot. It will be a PSI number. (Your tyre placard details the size, load, and pressure requirements specific to the tyres needed for your vehicle.)
Visit a service station or auto repairer to check the pressure with their air pressure pumps and adjust if needed. It can also be handy to have your own tyre pressure gauge to measure the pressure. They cost around $12 to $14 and are readily available at automotive retailers.
Tighten valve cores and caps to prevent air leaks. Make sure all your tyres have a valve cap (this is the main seal).
Make sure dual tyres have the same air pressure.
With vehicles that may be carrying extra loads such as utes and four-wheel drives, check the pressure is right for your load (see your tyre placard and/or owner’s manual).
If you have one, never ignore your vehicle's tyre warning system.
Wheel alignment
If your tyres are unbalanced, it can cause vibration and a rough ride. Getting your tyres professionally balanced is important for safer driving, and you’ll enjoy a smoother ride. Get your tyres rotated at every service, or at least every six months.
You should get your wheels aligned by a professional when:
You replace your tyres.
Your car starts to pull to either side.
You reach every 10,000km (best to rotate your tyres as well as balance them)
Your steering wheel isn't straight.
