Not the usual Tyre question

[Beachbum]

So how do you find out if your tyres need replacing.

Seems easy, but at the same time, taking it to a Tyre seller, to ask, seems an easy way to get told "of course you do", whether you do or not.

So where can you get some unbiased advice from. General answers, or even location specific to the Bournemouth area would be greatly appreciated

[thegreenhell]

Seriously?
How about just looking at them yourself and checking the tread depth and general condition of them?

[Janitor]

Beachy - did you receive my email..?

[Grinnders]

just google it and take a look at the bar indicators.

[bogie]

dont you check them every time you clean the car?

it takes about 30secs to look at them and maybe even rub your fingers along to the wear indicators

...do you check the oil anychance?

...you know this is not a good advert for "one careful owner" come resale LOL

[Beachbum]

Janitor said:

Beachy - did you receive my email..?

I did mate, problem is not just yet. I will reply and hopefully explain better later in the week

[Beachbum]

OK, so general condition of the tyre looks OK to me, but then what the hell do I really know about tyres. I drive the thing, not design it.
What is the legal tyre depth ? I hear its 1.7mm, but then I dont have a measure that is that accurate.
I wash the car infrequently to say the least, tyres get looked at, oil and coolant too on a weekly/10 day interval.

As to resale, well if someone truely thinks that a cars owner should be judged by his knowledge of tyre condition, then so be it. I would look at how well the car has been maintained be that by the individual, or by how much that person has spent by taking it to others to do the inspection/work. I fall into the latter catagory, primarily due to time available and lack of skill/knowledge

[AL...Ease]

There should be bumps in the main treaded sections of the tyre, these are the wear markers. If tyre is worn down so that these are flush then you need new tyres, if they are still a couple of mm inset then you are okay.

Also, if the thread has disappeared on one edge of the tyre (common with the inside edge of fronts on an Elise) then you might want to get rid.

Here's a picture of the wear marker when a tyre is okay:

[thegreenhell]

The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. You can either buy a cheap tread depth gauge from Halrauds, or just check the wear blocks on the tyres. Make sure you check for even wear across the full tread width. At this time of year I would be tempted to replace them before they get down to 1.6mm.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[TIPPER]

Check the tread depth all over the width of the tyre - not just the outside which is easier to get to.
Generally once a tyre shows less than 2mm by my depth indicator/guage (Halfords thing) then its time for newbies as gar as I'm concerned.

[Beachbum]

Much appreciated, thanks for the info.

[S Works]

Also you might want to think about how long they've been on there Beachy. If you've had them on there a few years without a lot of use then the rubber might be past its best. In which case, if you're there or thereabouts on the wear markers, the cost to change for something newer and with good tread might well be a sound investment before the weather gets worse.

[Beachbum]

S Works said:

Also you might want to think about how long they've been on there Beachy. If you've had them on there a few years without a lot of use then the rubber might be past its best. In which case, if you're there or thereabouts on the wear markers, the cost to change for something newer and with good tread might well be a sound investment before the weather gets worse.

That funnily enough is also something that was on my mind. Fronts a fairly new, rears are fairly old. I think I have that round the right way, need to find the receipt to confirm

[otolith]

Get one of these for about four quid:



Personally, I tend to replace tyres once they get below 3mm - that's when the wet performance drops off dramatically.

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/motorvehicl...

[Grinnders]

Beachy, How lazy are you? :lol:

I told you to google it and you still came up with 1.7mm (when as someone else pointed out later it's 1.6)

We are obviously all trying to help but taking advice from someone on a Forum will not hold up in court.

BTW, if your tyres are found to be illegal it coudl be 3pts and UP to £2500 fine per corner

and just to help you with this internet thingy I've included a nice little linky to the website.

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/motorvehicl...

and just in case you miss that one... here's another

http://www.dutyofcare.com/tyrecare.aspx

[cyberface]

AL...Ease said:

Here's a picture of the wear marker when a tyre is okay:

...and here's a picture of what the rear tyres on my sensible family saloon look like every 3000 miles.



Don't let them get that bad. Especially on a Lotus.

[Grinnders]

sensible family saloon? 3000 miles?

Is that 3000 miles on a track???

[AL...Ease]

Grinnders said:

sensible family saloon? 3000 miles?

Is that 3000 miles on a track???

It's a sensible family saloon I'd love to own!

[thegreenhell]

AL...Ease said:

Grinnders said:

sensible family saloon? 3000 miles?

Is that 3000 miles on a track???

It's a sensible family saloon I'd love to own!

http://www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?car...

[Grinnders]

not your average family car that one is it?