Most car owners check the tread depth of the tyre only to ensure it is safe for driving. However, the age of the tyre is also an important aspect to look into. A tyre may seem to be in good condition but still have problems inside due to its age. This may happen due to several factors such as infrequent use, weather conditions and time-related structural wear. As car owners keep their cars longer, old tyres start to develop problems. Industry experts, tyre manufacturers, and MOT testers all emphasise the importance of noting the age of a tyre along with looking for other factors that cause tyre wear.

The Difference Between Old Tyres and Worn Tyres

A worn tyre and an old tyre are not the same thing. If a vehicle is used every day, the tread depth may wear out over time. However, a tyre may get old when it is not used much, and the rubber quality and strength start to deteriorate. Tyre rubber may deteriorate in strength if it is exposed to the sun, gets wet or experiences temperature variances in the summer and winter seasons. These tyres are not safe to use, even if the tread is still okay, because they may not grip the road as well as new tyres.

Signs of Tyres Getting Old

There are some particular signs that every driver should look for to determine whether their Tyres Swindon are getting old, even if they do not look worn out. These signs include the following:

• Cracks or bulges on the sidewalls of the tyre
• The rubber is getting hard
• The surface of the tyre getting worse
• The tyre not being as flexible
• The tyre looking old around the tread area

The best way to determine the age of a tyre is to check its date of manufacture, which is usually in the DOT code and has four digits to indicate the week and year of manufacture.

Safety Regulators Emphasise Ageing Tyres During Checks

Old tyres are unsafe to use because they can cause serious accidents on the road, even though their tread is fine and within the set minimum legal limits. Ageing tyres may not show the obvious, common signs of wear but can still become unsafe to drive on. Safety regulators are worried about the cars that are rarely or periodically used, for example, only in the summer season. They are more concerned about how strong the tyre is at the time of inspection and how long it will last rather than emphasising only the tread depth.

Low Mileage Does Not Uphold Safety

Many drivers believe that if a car is not driven much, it is safer and the tyres will last longer. This is not always true. Tyres on cars that are not used much can age as quickly as those on cars that are used regularly. When a car is not moved for a long time, the Tyres Hardwick are under constant pressure in the same spot all the time, resulting in structural damage and weakness. The weather can also affect the rubber even if the car is not being driven. There are some examples of cars that might have this problem, such as:

Cars that are only used sometimes

• Old cars
• Caravans and trailers
• Cars that are only used in specific seasons
• Cars that are only used for trips
• In these cases, the tyres might look okay, but they could still be ageing and unsafe to drive.

The Importance of Professional Inspections

Professional inspections by certified technicians at a reliable service centre like Martini Tyres ensure a comprehensive check the goes beyond tyre tread depth. They will also check the sidewalls of the tyre for cracks, other structural damage, signs of weather damage, and more. Most drivers trust such professional inspections because they know how long their tyres will last. In addition to a comprehensive tyre check, the professionals will also recommend repairs or replacements for other parts of the car that may be faulty and affect the functioning and structural integrity of the tyres.

What Drivers Should Check to Ensure the Safety of Tyres

Most motorists today have realised that vehicle safety is not about the tread but about the whole tyre. So, there are a few specific areas that they themselves look into to make sure the tyres are safe, which include the following:

• Cracks, bumps or bulges in the sidewalls
• Uneven wear of tyre tread
• Foreign objects stuck in the tyre
• Rubber that is hard, dry and cracked
• The date the tyre was made