Five common car tyre problems and how to avoid them

Perhaps the most vulnerable part of a car is its tyres. This is why it is sensible to have a regular routine of checking tyres, looking for the earliest signs of damage or problems to prevent larger issues later on. Motorists driving in Scotland or nearby areas should make sure that their tyres are well prepared to roll on rough terrain. 

Here are the five most common car tyre problems, and how to avoid them.

Under- or over-inflation

In the early days of motoring, drivers were encouraged to think outside the box when it came to tyre inflation. It was a fairly common practice to lower the inflation when more grip was needed, such as in icy conditions. However, modern tyres are so much more than those early “rubber sacks”: they are precision-engineered constructions, and as such they are designed to be used within the recommended range of inflation.

Modern tyres tend to sound noisy at non-optimal pressures, alerting drivers to any problems.

It’s best to include a regular check on tyre pressure with every alternate refuelling visit to a service station – more often if the tyres lose pressure during that interval, however long it might be.

Incorrect tread depth

Tread depth must legally be above 1.6mm around the whole tyre and across at least the middle three-quarters of the tyre’s width. However, mechanics often recommend not letting the average tread depth fall below 3mm, for greater safety and peace of mind.

If drivers notice that their car is skidding more, or not responding quite as readily to turns, then the problem may lie with their tread depth.

Tread depth should be measured about every six months or so (more often if it’s very close to suboptimal depths). The quickest way is with a 20p piece: the trick is to stand the coin up in the deepest part of the tread depth and see if it’s possible to see the band that runs around the outer perimeter of the face of the coin. If the band is visible at all, the tread depth is too low and it’s time to buy a new set of tyres as quickly as possible, or risk incurring a large fine should the police discover the problem.

Unbalanced wheels

Unbalanced wheels mean that the weight of the car’s body is pressing down unevenly on the four tyres, with one or two tyres taking more weight than the others. As well as being a most uncomfortable drive, it can cause damage within the car: from the wheels to the axles to further along the steering system, excess wear and tear can cause major issues.

If tyres are unbalanced the car will pull oddly when it’s driven. It can also be noisy, and drivers may feel that the car is “heavy” under the hands.

All cars should be serviced regularly as this often includes a wheel balancing check. If the tyres have already suffered damage, it is best to change them promptly. There are specialists who can help all over the country – for example, those looking for tyres in Dundee can book them at Fife Autocentre.

Misaligned tyres

Often going hand-in-hand with unbalanced wheels, misaligned tyres happen when the tyres are not fitted precisely to the car’s axle. This can lead to the tyres pulling away from or pushing in towards one another, rather than rolling parallel. Needless to say, this exerts unwanted pressures on the tyres, the wheels and the axles, and can worsen other existing issues.

Misaligned tyres may squeak or grind, the car will feel sluggish and lacking in response to the steering wheel, and fuel consumption might go up as the car burns more fuel with the added friction from the misalignment.

Once again, as with wheel balancing, a reputable servicing garage will automatically check the alignment of the tyres each time the car is taken in for a service or for a new set of tyres.

Damaged tyres

Damage is caused by driving on rough roads or over potholes, going off-road, or by driving over sharp debris on the road. Parking on the curb can damage the sidewall, and under and over-inflation can also cause issues.

Some types of damage can’t be seen without a deliberate check – at least, until the tyre fails catastrophically with a puncture or blowout.

Therefore, drivers should get into the habit of regularly checking over their tyres for early signs of damage, punctures or distortions in the side-wall, which can be a sign of an internal weakness. Once spotted, it’s essential to call a mechanic to get the problems rectified before they can become serious and expensive!

The editorial unit