MOT Garage Watford

Have you been asking: how do you make car tyres last longer? We look at top tips for motorists to make your tyres last longer.

Tyres are one of the most important components of your car. After all, they're the only things keeping you on the road, providing grip and stability as your only contact with the road surface. 

The grip your tyres provide ensures you don't slide around when cornering, meaning when this grip is reduced, so is your stability when driving. This can happen for various reasons, including having your tyres under-inflated or unevenly worn. 

Not only is it more dangerous for you to drive with severely worn tyres, but it's also illegal here in the UK. According to UK road legislation, the legal limit for the minimum tyre tread depth allowed is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre surface. 

If your tyre treads are below this minimum level, they are deemed illegal, and you can face a fine of £2,500 per illegal tyre and three penalty points on your licence.

However, tyres can be incredibly expensive depending on the type you choose and where you buy them from. 

Most cars from luxury manufacturers, such as Porsche, Ferrari, Rolls Royce etc., will state that you can only fit approved tyres to their vehicles, further increasing the potential costs of replacing them. 

Therefore, getting the most out of your existing tyres is far more cost-effective. Here we've compiled a few tips on increasing the longevity of your tyres.

WHAT DOES CAR SERVICING INCLUDE?

Tips to Make Your Tyres Last Longer

Owning a car is expensive, with numerous additional costs involved after your initial purchase. From regular service charges to maintenance and repairs to tax and insurance, there's a lot to pay for. And in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, we're all looking for ways to reduce our outgoings. One of the easiest ways to do this is to look after your vehicle.

By avoiding unnecessary bills for repairs or maintenance, you can help keep more of the money you earn in your pocket. One of the easiest ways to do this is to take good care of your tyres. Of course, every car owner should ensure their tyres are well-maintained from a safety standpoint, keeping them performing appropriately. But even the most cared-for tyres will eventually wear out.

In some cases, your tyres will wear out faster than you anticipate, which is why car owners should inspect both their rear and front tyres on a regular basis. Regardless of how recently you purchased them, you can extend your tyre lifespan considerably by following a few easy tips. So, if you want to prolong your tyres and remain safer on the roads, read on to discover our top tips for looking after your car tyres.

If you don't know what to look for, it is probably best to take your car to a professional mechanic or garage to have your tyre pressures, and alignment checked. However, if you own a car produced after 2014, it will be easier for you to keep your tyres properly inflated. UK law demands that all cars manufactured after this year be fitted with a TPMS, or Tyre Pressure Monitoring System.

The TPMS in your car will monitor your tyre pressures and alert you when one or more of your tyres needs attention. Of course, you shouldn't just rely on this system to warn you of an issue, with regular tyre checks being the best way to keep on top of your tyre pressure.

One of the key things to look for when checking your tyre pressure is a noticeable dip in the centre of your tyres. This is a clear sign of under-inflated tyres and can lead to the outside edges of your tyres wearing more quickly than the rest of the surface and even lead to burning more fuel than necessary. Alternatively, if you notice the centre portion of your tyres is wearing more than the outer edges, this is a sign that your tyres are overinflated.

Check your wheel alignment

Tyres must be kept at a specific angle of alignment to ensure even tyre wear across their surface. Each manufacturer will state this specific angle for their cars in the owner's manual, and it is your job as the car owner to ensure they are kept there. There are numerous ways your tyres can fall out of alignment, including hitting potholes at speed or driving into kerbs. Some of the main signs that your tyres are out of alignment include:

• Feeling your car pulling to one side as you drive.
• Feeling your steering wheel vibrate as your drive. 
• Noticing uneven wear or rapid wear on your car's tyres. 
• Hearing grinding or squealing noises from your tyres at low speeds.
  

Driving with tyres that are out of alignment is dangerous and poses a significant risk to you and other road users. Therefore, if you feel there is a problem, you should take your car to a professional mechanic or garage and have the wheels aligned properly.

Choose the right tyre

Choosing the right tyres for your vehicle can dramatically increase how long you can make your tyres last. For example, there are tyres on the market that are optimised to counter rolling resistance and improve the efficiency of your engine and fuel consumption.

These tyres reduce the amount of fuel you need to burn to power your car, thanks to the minimised friction on the road surface.  Another top tip is to use the same brand for all four tyres of your car. Different tyre manufacturers will use different manufacturing processes and rubber materials to create their tyres.

Therefore, by using the same type of tyre all around your car, you guarantee consistent performance, reducing the chance of uneven or rapid tyre wear. You also reduce the risk of fitting defective tyres to your car when your new tyres come from the same manufacturer.

Avoid bumps and scrapes

Bumping or scraping against sharp edges on kerbs or pavements can lead to punctures or structural tyre damage, so it's best to be careful when parking.

By parking carefully, you also avoid potentially knocking your tyres out of alignment, helping you save money on potentially expensive repairs and replacements and ensure your tyres wear evenly.

Drive with care

Your personal driving style can also have a significant effect on a tyre's lifespan. Those who tend to accelerate aggressively, use harder braking, and corner at higher speeds will notice their tyres suffering increased wear and tear. Not only this, but it's also far more dangerous for you and other road users than when you drive smoothly.

Therefore, avoid driving too aggressively to save your tyres. You'll also want to bear the road conditions, such as excess heat or wet weather, in mind regarding your driving style and tyre wear.

Empty the boot

Weight can have a significant impact on the rate of tyre wear. Given that your tyres are already carrying you, your passengers, the engine, chassis and bodywork of your car, it's best to avoid adding additional weight whenever possible. The easiest way to make your car lighter is to empty your boot of everything you don't need.

Once you do this, not only will you reduce tyre wear, but you'll also improve your fuel economy, saving you even more money.