How often or when should a tire be replaced?

How do you know if the tires are worn?

To know if a tire is worn or not, you must check the grooves of the tread located on the sidewall of the tire. This is where the wheel marking is placed. The legal thickness of these grooves is 1.6 mm. If this size exceeds 2 mm, while the tire does not show a tear, it must be replaced because the limit has been reached.

Another very simple technique to detect the wear indicator: slip a €1 coin into the central grooves of the tire at the tread level. The "face" side of the coin should face the checker. If all the stars around the part are visible then it is time to replace the tires. A worn tire loses its ability to evacuate water, mud and sand and sees its grip on the ground decrease. As a result, braking distances become longer.

How to check tire age?

According to experts, a tire over five years old begins to lose its qualities because the rubber ages and no longer has the same grip as when it started. This is why it is safer to choose new tires rather than used ones.

In order to check the age of the tyres, that is to say their date of manufacture, use the DOT code: this is a four-digit code located on the sidewall. The first two digits correspond to the week of manufacture of the tire while the last two indicate the year. Thus, the DOT code 1117 means that the tire was manufactured during the 11th week of the year 2017.

How do you maintain tires so they last longer?

If it is well maintained and if it is installed in good conditions (dry environment and not exposed to the sun's rays), the lifespan of a tire can greatly exceed 5 years. Moreover, after having exceeded 40,000 km it is possible that a tire, even less than 5 years old, shows wear. It will then need to be changed.

Here are some good gestures and tips to help prolong the durability and preserve the quality of the tire:

– Check the tire pressure: the four tires must be well balanced for good load distribution. – Replace a tire as soon as a tear appears; – Check the geometry at least once a year; – Replace the damaged valve; – Prefer inflation with nitrogen; – Control the driving of the car.