Your tyre questions answered

When should I replace my tyres?

Renew tyres before they cause an MOT failure.

The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm but we reason that you should replace them, once they reach 2.0mm.

Minor sidewall perishing is acceptable but deep cracks, cuts and gouges are not.

Have all wheels removed from the car and inspected closely at least annually. Do not rely on the MOT inspector to do this for you. The work should be done by your technician, when the car is serviced.

Check tyres regularly at home. Look for bulges, deformation, or low/uneven tread wear. Should you find any such defects, have the tyre inspected professionally as soon as possible,

The current (as at 2023) penalty is three penalty points and a fine of up to £2,500 per defective tyre.

What is the maximum age for car tyres?

Tyre manufacturers tend not to give replacement time limits, because it depends greatly on how the car is used. The general figure is 7-10 years, because the rubber ages and hardens over time, reducing grip. Perishing is a typical sign that the rubber is not as supple as it once was.

Why are my tyres wearing unevenly?

Ideally, wear should be even. While some cars wear their tyres unevenly by design, irregular wear tends to be caused by suspension wear, misalignment and incorrect inflation.

What tyres should I buy?

For the majority of cars our roads, we recommend that you fit tyres of the same size recommended by the manufacturer. The speed and load indexes can be higher but never less.

While favoured by some car modifiers for the 'Euro Look' stance, we do not recommend tyres are stretched to fit on a super-wide rim.

Should my tyres be the same brand?

Although not a legal requirement in the UK (although it is in some European countries), we recommend that all tyres are of the same brand type to ensure optimum balanced grip and handling.

Should I consider part-worn tyres?

GEM does not recommend part worn tyres. While regulations govern their fitment, 94% of those inspected by TyreSafe were being fitted illegally.

Should I buy budget, mid-range, or premium brand tyres?

Much depends on your car, its usage and your budget. While you can change brands in most cases, do not deviate from the tyre specifications that your carmaker recommends.

As there are no counterfeit tyres on the market, a relatively inexpensive budget tyre will not be dangerous. It is more likely that a new budget tyre will be safer than a premium part-worn tyre, for instance.

Premium tyres tend to incorporate the latest in tyre technology. Should your car be a high performance model and/or you drive regularly at high-speeds, this is worth considering.

Should your priority be tyre life consider that not all premium tyres last as long as mid-range tyres. For this reason, mid-range tyres can offer optimum value for money for average users, when their lower price is considered.

What about the tyre labels?

The latest EU tyre label was introduced in 2021, to provide user-friendly information about noise, wet grip and fuel consumption.

Consider that it does not contain all the relevant information. Tyre manufacturers can tweak their specifications to look good on the labels but at the expense of other considerations, such as cornering ability, dry grip and tyre life.

What about my EV?

Some Battery Electric Vehicles (and some hybrids) require extra heavy-duty tyres, because of their weight and very strong acceleration. We do not recommend changing to a lesser-specification tyre.

What other tasks should I have done, when having my tyres changed? (<h2>)

When seeking quotations, ensure that they include balancing, fitting, new valve/valve core and safe disposal of your old tyres.

Most modern cars possess Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) that require servicing every time the tyre is removed from the rim. Ask your tyre fitter about costs; a typical price is £10-£25 per wheel.

To obtain optimum performance, safety and longevity from your new tyres, have a four-wheel suspension alignment check performed. Should any adjustment be necessary, enquire if your car possesses any Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). These include technologies such as emergency braking/steering facilities and even distance cruise control.

ADAS systems tend to require calibration if any adjustment is made to the car's suspension geometry. Enquire with your garage about the extra work and costs involved to preserve your car's safety equipment.

Prices for wheel geometry and ADAS calibration vary wildly, depending on garage and your car's make and model.

Keep up to date with the latest news from GEM Motoring Assist at:

Twitter: @motoringassist

Facebook: @gemmotoringassist

Instagram: @gem_motoringassist

LinkedIn: @gem-motoring-assist-limited

GEM Motoring Assist is a members’ motoring and road safety organisation in the UK. Our aim is to keep our members on the move… whether that’s through our breakdown recovery service or our motoring and road safety expertise.

Join GEM for simple and straightforward, all-inclusive personal breakdown cover.