Over a million new drivers passed their driving tests between April 2022 and 2023, representing seven figures’ worth of new drivers on the road. Many of those new drivers know relatively little about cars, let alone car maintenance. As a result, an important part of car safety frequently falls through the cracks: tyre maintenance. Here are three simple tyre safety considerations for new drivers.
Tread Depth and Tyre Pressure
The two most important things you need to take regular notice of, concerning your car’s tyres, are tread depth and tyre pressure.
Tread depth refers to the distance between the bottom of the tread groove and the ‘top’ of the tread; there is a legal minimum to which all car tyres must comply, to be safe on UK roads. That minimum is 1.6mm, below which the tyre will not have enough traction to guarantee a safe stopping distance. In the event of discovering illegal tyres, the only solution is to replace them. Replacing all tyres will ensure they wear evenly, and choosing continental tyres as a quality brand can ensure that wear will occur over a longer time frame.
Tyre pressure is measured in psi and must be monitored regularly. Even though tyres are functionally airtight, there are still ways in which air can escape slowly. If tyre pressure is too low, fuel economy and handling can be affected drastically. The changing temperatures of the seasons can also cause atmospheric pressure to change, bringing tyre pressure down in colder weather. As such, tyres should be tested and topped up on a bimonthly basis.
Rotate Your Tyres
Even if you replace all your tyres the next time one wears down, there is no guarantee that all of your tyres will wear completely uniformly. The unique weight distribution of your car, and how you drive, can together inform how the tyres wear. Regularly, you should rotate your tyres – that is, swap their location on your car around – to even out how they wear.
It is easy to forget about the health of your tyres, particularly if you are driving regularly. But if your car spends extended periods not being used often. If your car is sitting parked for a while, the tyres can deform unevenly under the weight of the vehicle itself. As such, moving your car slightly can help counter this deformation.
Carrying a Spare
Practically all cars carry a spare tyre. This is to ensure that a puncture or flat does not necessarily cause a premature end to your journey or a costly call-out. Instead, the affected tyre can be replaced and the journey can resume. This spare should be checked at regular intervals too, to ensure it remains able to perform its task.
With this in mind, it can also be extremely important to know how to replace a car tyre when necessary. The tools required to do so should always be in your boot: a car jack and a four-way wheel wrench. Replacing a tyre is as simple as applying the handbrake, lifting the car at the chassis anchor point closest to the tyre that needs replacing, and loosening the lugs holding said tyre in place. One tyre is removed, the spare fitted and the lugs tightened around it.
