#TestYourTreads – The importance of checking your tyres

We're coming up to the final Bank Holiday until Christmas this weekend and we're planning to make the most of it. As long as we have a day of good weather (OK, make that not pouring down!) we will be off on a road trip of some kind. As we have a people carrier the weight of the car can sometimes vary from one person with an empty boot to all seven seats being used and the roof box on. This means that when we top up with fuel when we set off we usually check our tyres. There are several reasons for doing this and so let's have a look at what else we should be checking on our tyres.

Tread – There is a legal limit as to how low the tread on your tyres can go. This is 1.6mm across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. If you are found to have tyres that are below this limit you can be fined up to £2,500 and have 3 penalty points on your licence. The thinner the tread on your tyres the longer it will take your car to stop if you brake and this is particularly noticeable and dangerous in wet weather. This is why it is advisable not to let your tyres to wear down to the legal limit but to change them once they to 3mm. Once the tread goes on your tyres you need to get new tyres quickly. As it is something you can't leave you need to make sure you get it sorted. You can check online companies such as TyrePlus to see if they have the right tyres for your car in stock.

Pressure – If your tyre pressure is low it could indicate a problem such as a slow puncture. You can get a good idea of this if your tyre pressure goes down significantly with 24 hours of you topping it up. If you continue to drive round with a tyre in this state you won't be in full control of the car and it could be very dangerous.

Tyres naturally lose pressure over time so it is always a good idea to check it regularly. The weight of a car can also alter what tyre pressure is needed. A tyre with lower pressure than it should have can be very uneconomical to run as it uses more fuel and also wears the tread more quickly. On the flip side don't over fill your tyres as they will be more prone to puncture and don't grip the road as well. Front and back tyres usually have different pressures so make sure you check the tyre pressure for both.

Tyre condition – There are many things that can affect the condition of your tyres but it is your responsible and legal requirement to keep them road worthy. If they don't look right then get them checked out. This could be lumps or bumps or parts of the tyre hanging loose.

Tyre size – Your car isn't a monster truck so don't try to make it look like one. By law you should have the same size and type of tyres on the axle of your car. This means you can't have one tyre on one side one size and the other made of a different material and bigger.

How often do you check your tyres? Have you ever had a problem with your tyres?

This is a collaborative post.