Caution! Remember tyre age.

Never use a tyre over Six Years old, regardless of

whether
it
has
been
used
or
not.
To check the age of the tyre look for the DOT number stamped on the sidewall of the
tyre, it will look something like "DOT XXXX 3207" and in this example the tyre was
manufactured
during
the
32nd
week
of
2007.
At least every week check the tyre pressure (including spare). Incorrect tyre pressure
may adversely affect tyre life and vehicle handling. Tyre pressure should be checked
when tyres are Cold after the vehicle has been parked for three or more hours, or
driven less than 1 mile. COLD tyre pressures are shown on garage forecourt. Different
vehicles
have
different
tyre
pressures
so
check
the
charts.
Insufficient pressure can lead to overheating of the tyre and subsequently internal
damage. At high speeds, this could result in tread separation and even bursting of the
tyre.
Tyres should also be inspected for wear, cracking, bulging, or objects caught in the
tread. If excessive wear, cracks, bulging, or deep cuts are found, the tyre should be
replaced.
Most new tyres have a built-in tread wear indicator (See diagram RIGHT). When wear
indicator
is
visible,
the
tyre
should
be
replaced.
In the UK by law, Cars, light vans and light trailers must have a tread depth of at least
1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breath of the tread and around the entire
circumference.
An easy way to check the tread depth of your tyres if they don't have wear indicators is
with the use of a 20 pence coin. Place the coin in the tread and make sure the tread
covers
the
edge
as
shown
in
the
video
below.

Motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles must have a tread
depth
of
at
least
1mm.
WARNING Do not use a deformed wheel even if it has been repaired. Such wheels
could
have
structural
damage
and
could
fail
without
warning.
Unbalanced wheels may affect vehicle handling and tyre life. Even with regular use,
wheels can get out of balance. Therefore, they should be balanced as required.
Motorists are failing to check the condition of their tyres, which could have fatal
consequences, Although tyres are critical for the safety of all road users, many motorists
are in breach of, and, oblivious to, the legal 1.6mm tread depth requirement, and may
have tyres classified as severely damaged. With a maximum fine of 2,500 per tyre with
discretionary disqualification including three penalty points, motorists could be in for a
nasty
shock,
if
caught
driving
with
illegal
tyres.

Should

we

use

Winter

Tyres

in

the

UK

Quick look at the top tips to ensure tyres are legal and in top condition:

Examine tyres every two weeks for signs of damage, uneven wear, splits or
cracks.

Keep track of tyre tread depth by purchasing an easy-to-use tread depth gauge.
The legal requirement is 1.6mm, but many manufacturers recommend changing at 2mm
or even 3mm.

Check tyres are inflated to the correct pressure every week using a reliable
gauge. Do this when the tyres are cold.

Tyres will wear at different speeds especially between front and back. Don't
presume all tyres will be in the same condition.

Ask a garage to check the vehicle's tracking every six months, or after any
collision or heavy kerb impact. Incorrect tracking leads to uneven and accelerated tyre
wear.

Aggressive driving styles can take thousand of miles from the life expectancy of
tyres. Harsh acceleration and braking will reduce the tread significantly.

When changing tyres, never risk buying part worn or second-hand tyres, a brand
new tyre or retread is always a safer investment.

Understanding Your Vehicles Tires

Your tires are the only part of the car that has direct contact with the road. Tires affect your vehicle handling, ride,
braking, and safety. For optimum performance, tires must have the correct air pressure, tread depth, balance and the
wheels of the vehicle must be properly aligned.
Checking your tires on a regular basis is an important step in protecting your safety and your automotive investment.
Ideally, tire inspections should be performed monthly. If you drive over potholes and debris in the road, live in a cold
climate, or drive long distances regularly, then you should inspect your tires more often.
Always inspect your tires before a long trip. The more often these inspections are performed, the easier it will be to
find a small problem, such as a nail in your tire, and fix it before it becomes a more expensive and time-consuming
issue.

Poor tire maintenance can lead to premature tire wear, a flat tire or even a blowout. Factors other than tires
themselves also can affect tire wear. Worn suspension parts and wheel alignment both play a direct role in tire wear
and performance.

Tire Problems to Look For During a Visual Inspection

Over inflation: Too much air pressure causes mostly the tires middle section to contact the road. This

creates wear primarily in the center of the tread, with less wear at the tires edges.
Under inflation: Too little air pressure causes mostly the tires outer edges to contact the road. This creates

wear primarily on both edges of the tire tread, with less wear in the center.
Tread wear on one edge of the tire: This typically occurs when the wheels are out of alignment.
Erratic tread wear: This is often called cupping, and may mean the wheel is out of balance, or that the

shock absorbers or other suspension components need to be replaced.

Raised portion of the tread or sidewall: May indicate that one of the belts in the tire carcass has
separated from those next to it.

Tire Problems to Look for While Driving

Unusual vibration or thumping noise: Vibration or thumping noises can indicate an out-of-balance tire,

one with tread that has a flat spot due to locking the wheels in a panic stop, or a tire with a separated belt.
A pull to one side: While driving at a steady speed, pulling to one side may indicate an underinflated or
damaged tire on the side of the car to which the vehicle pulls. If this is not the case, a brake problem or poor wheel
alignment may be causing the pull.

Tires depend on good tread condition depth to maintain traction and to shed water on wet roads. The tread should be
checked at least once a month for excessive and uneven wear. The most accurate tread depth measurements are
made with a simple tread depth gauge available at any parts store. Or you can use the traditional quarter and penny
tests.
Insert a quarter into a tread groove with the top of Washingtons head facing down. If the top of his head is not visible,
your tires have at least 4/32 of tread and are fine for continued use. If you can see above the top of Washingtons
head, it is time to start shopping for new tires. Take measurements in three locations across the tires tread: (1)outer
edge, (2) center, and (3) inside edge.
The penny test is done in the same way, except that if you can see above the top of Lincolns head your tires have
less than 2/32 of tread, which is below the legal minimum and cause for immediate replacement. Tires worn to this
level will also have visible wear indicators (thin bald strips) running from side to side across two or more tread
segments.
The difference between 4/32 and 2/32 of tread depth might not seem like much, but based on research by the Tire
Rack, Americas largest independent tire tester the difference is significant. For example, a pickup truck traveling at
70 miles per hour that passes the penny test can take up to 499.5 feet to stop on wet pavement . However, the same
truck has a stopping distance 122 feet shorter if it passes the quarter test instead. This is a 24 percent difference in
stopping distance, and the equivalent of six or more car lengths.
The Tire Rack also reported that tires passing the quarter test exhibited better grip on the road under other driving
conditions as well. Given these facts, AAA suggests you put that penny back in your piggy bank and instead use a
quarter to check tire wear and determine when it is time for replacement.

Keeping your tires properly inflated is one of the easiest ways to help maintain good gas mileage and extend the life
of your tires. Check your cars tire pressure at least once a month with a quality gauge, that measures pressure in
pounds-per square inch (psi). Three types of tire pressure gauges are available at most auto parts stores: digital, dial
and pen/stick types. The digital and dial designs tend to be more accurate and easier to read, although a good
pen/stick gauge will do the job as well. Pressure gauges built into air hoses at gas stations are often abused and
frequently inaccurate.
Recommended tire pressures are for cold tires. Therefore, tire pressure should be checked at ambient temperature
before the vehicle has been driven. Checking tire pressure on a car that has warm tires can result in a pressure
reading of up to 5 psi higher than the recommended pressure. The recommended inflation pressures for your cars
tires can be found in the vehicles owners manual or on the tire information decal attached to the drivers door jamb.
On older cars the decal may be in the glove box or inside the fuel filler door.

Checking Air Pressure

1. Remove the tires valve cap.
2. Place the gauge over the tires valve stem and press firmly so that no escaping air is heard. The tire gauge will
indicate how much pressure is in the tire.

3. Adjust the tires air pressure as needed. When adding air, push the air hose into the valve firmly, until the air stops
escaping. Check the pressure every few seconds to help judge the amount of air going into the tire, until you reach
the recommended air pressure. If the tires pressure is greater than it should be, use the nipple on the tire gauge to
press the center of the tire valve stem and release air.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat the process for the other tires. Dont forget the spare tire.

https://www.ctyres.co.uk/general/metric
Tyre Types

Summer :- Summer tyres are ideal and are basically the best type for UK weather
conditions and roads. They deliver excellent driving and braking performance on wet and dry
roads. In all the seasons spring, summer, autumn and above freezing winter conditions. The
tread pattern ensures that they grip well to the road remaining as rigid as possible at all
times. So come rain, sunshine summer tyres are your perfect choice for the ultimate
performance.

Winter:- Yes weve all been there stuck in snow and sliding along icy
roads because our tyres arent gripping well enough. Winter tyres are designed to tackle just
the issue for you, designed specifically for the snow and ice covered roads, so when
temperatures plummet these will surely help on the tricky road surfaces. Winter tyres have a
fine block design with grooves that are deep and wide some also come with spikes, the
rubber compound is perfect for low temperatures so when temperatures are below freezing
they provide good friction characteristics. They are not very popular in the UK as our winter
is not that harsh and we only get snow for a few days.

All season :- The name says it all, these tyres are suited for all
season or four season use although they may not be the ultimate
performer in the dry and wet months and in icy conditions. They
better for winter use than summer tyres. The tread pattern is more
complex, they have more sips, the tread bites the surface to give grip
in freezing conditions. One thing to remember is that in areas where the winters are harsh
and snow is a daily occurrence the low temperatures and snowy conditions they will not
work you wonders. You would require a proper winter type tyre. All season tread designs
provide good traction and stability but also have good tread wear and tyre noise ratings
compared to winter
types.

Sidewall

Markings

The best way to get your tyre size is to use the tried and tested no nonsense manner of
checking it yourself. The size will be clearly printed on the outside of the tyre as shown in
the picture above.
The different numbers and letters that make up
the size does get quite confusing so I will try
putting it into simple terms for you. The
numbers and letter resemble the Tyre width,
profile, and rim size, Load rating and Speed
rating.
If we run through the example below I will explain what each letter and number resembles.
size:

205/55 R 16 91 V
made up of the following information:

is

Width:- The width is measured in millimetres, and is measured from end to end of the tyre
including the sidewall but excluding any raised lettering or rim protectors. In the size written
above and the image the 205 represents the width.
Height / profile:- The aspect ratio is the height of the tyre, in this case the height is
112.75mm so those of you that are good with your maths will know that 55 % of 205 is
112.75mm. Another way to understand this is that the profile / height is basically a
percentage of the width of the tyre.
Rim diameter:-The words say it all how wide your rims are is basically the rim size in this
case its 16 inch
Load rating:- This is where most people get confused, but help is at hand. The load index is
a numerical code that represents the maximum load a tyre can carry. In this scenario the
load rating is 91 which means this it has a carrying capacity of 615kg. All tyres do not carry
the same load rating so for more information on please visit our load rating section.
Speed rating:-The speed rating of the tyre determines how fast the tyre can travel, in the
above example the speed rating isV this means the speed limit is 149mph. In this example
the R donates the radial size and is not a speed rating indicator. To see a complete guide of
speed ratings please visit the tyre speed section to see a chart.

Tread design

Groove:- The groove is the hollow part or the tread. The grooves are cut which makes the
tyre pattern. Tyres come in different patterns and grooves, from the simple block pattern to
the modern v tread designs. The hollow part (the groove) is designed to channel the water
out and away. As a the tread wears the groove becomes less hollow and apparent. The
design of the groove effects the performance and the quality of the tyre.

Pitch:- The pitch/cuff is the small tread at the edge of both

sides of the tyre, as shown in the picture on the left. The pitch
often wears out before the wrest of the tyre. The function of
the pitch is to enhance the performance providing better
steering and stability. The pitch is mostly visible on winter
tyres, the pitch functions to byte the road and grip the ice.
Rib shape:- As the name implies the design of this pattern is
like a rib shape with the grooves running from the centre to the edges like a rib pattern. The
pattern aids faster water drainage and hence gives good traction on wet roads. This pattern
is commonly found on most tyres and in todays high speed driving is suitable for all car
types. The disadvantage of this type of design is that it is rotational pattern meaning the
direction has to be set when mounting the tyre. A tyre mounted on the left can not be
mounted on the right, you have to actually demount the tyre from the rim and swap in the
inside to face the outside to
set the direction right.
Assymetric
pattern:- Asymmetric tyres haven a different
tread design on the inside to
the outside. An asymmetric pattern looks like
two different tyres joined in
the middle. The sides differ in pattern to give
different functionality, the inside offers better cornering traction while the outside is
designed to channel water away. This type of design is commonly found on highperformance vehicles and more so on the wider tyres. Often people confuse a rotation tyre
with an asymmetric pattern, unlike a rotation pattern, asymmetric tyres have an inside and
outside marking. They also can be mounted on the car on the left or right.
Block shape:- This type of pattern as the name suggests has a block shape
design. The grooves are very small the tread pattern is very tight and close.
The advances in tread design have seen this tyre less in use, it was very
common on passenger cars up till the 90s. Today it is mostly seen on winter and all season
type tyres.

ZigZag
shape:- This is a classic tread design for a van. Even today
most van tyres apart from a few are still using this zigzag design. The reason for the success
of this design in commercial use is because of the grooves that are cut in a zigzag giving the
tyre low rolling resistance, low heat generation ideal for the long journeys that commercial
vehicles do. There are also many disadvantages of this type of pattern including poor
cornering because of flex in the tyre, also lack of grip in wet and dry.

Construction

Most people assume tyres are just made from rubber and filled with air, very little they know
about the complex structure and different materials used that make it up. The essential
components are shown in the diagram above. We have given a brief description of these
components and their function. Some components are apparent like the tread and sidewall
however there others that are hidden. Nowadays tubes are a thing of the past and tyres
come with the tube like rubber fixed to the inside this is called the inner lining and shown in
the picture above as inner liner. The sidewall helps makes it rigid and protects the carcass,
this in turn improves the ride quality general y speaking a larger sidewall tyre i.e.| that his
higher in profile is a lot more comfortable than a low-profile one as it has more flex in the
sidewall and hence absorbs the road
imperfections better.
The tread is the main contact part with
the road, tread designs are different
and they are evolving and improving.
The objective is to create a tread design
that will give better grip in all weather
conditions and cope with the demands
and stresses that are put on the tyre in
all driving.
The bead is what secures the tyre to the rim. Its made up of a beaded wire and rubber core.
This is part of the sidewall.
Steel wire or a textile fabric makes up belt, its main job is to reinforce the structure
protecting it from impacts sustained on the road.
A tyre needs to offer good heat dispersal and for this the tyre shoulder section plays its part.
The shoulder is the edge of rubber on both sides.
The tyre carcass has to resist the stresses caused by constant pressure of the forces that
occur in acceleration, braking and changing direction, for this the inner cord must support
the weight and absorb impact.
The chafer protects the cord as it appears on the rim wheel the chafer is the lining between
the tyre and the rim.

Tyre Pressures Guide

How many of us regularly check our tyre pressures, I think the majority of people dont
bother hopefully this guide will get us all into checking the tyre pressure on our car a lot
more. Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is very important as it affects the safety and
driving performance, not only that but it also has an impact on the mileage and fuel
consumption of your car. Remember both under inflated and over inflated can affect the
performance and therefore it is a definite must that you always check and maintain the
correct pressure.
To find out the correct inflation pressure you should check the
vehicle hand book, there should also be a small chart which
can also be found either on the fuel cap of your car or on one
of the door pillars in the car.
Tyre pressure checks should be made regularly it is to be noted
that if you have been traveling a long distance on your car
then you should wait till the tyres are cold otherwise you would
get an incorrect reading. You should try and check the tyre pressures on a regular basis
every fortnight would be a good schedule and always before those long journeys one makes,
and make sure you dont forget the spare because it is needed when you have a puncture.
Checking all five tyres is a very important safety tip, its a two minute process that not only
improves the performance and drive quality of the car but also will save you money in the
long run. Correctly inflated tyres improve fuel efficiency, tyre life and ride quality surprisingly
it would also keep your car alive and kicking for a lot longer.
Under inflated tyres is one of the most common occurrences, most car users either do not
bother filling the correct tyre pressure or they don't follow the tyre pressure regime
recommended by the manufacturer. If a tyre is over inflated this causes an increase in tyre
wear on the middle of the tread as the both inside and out side of the tyre do not contact the
road. The opposite occurs when the tyre is under inflated the tyres wears out quicker on the
shoulders. In conclusion, both over and under inflated tyres are dangerous and cause a
serious breach in the safety of the car components especially on high-speed journeys.
Diagram below shows the difference.

Under inflated tyres not only affect the ride quality on rough roads, but it can cause further
damage to key components in your car such as the suspension and in the long run you may
have to change it. You would also see that the wheel balancing and alignment may need to
be done as well all because of under inflated tyres.
The best way to check your tyre pressure is to use a pressure gauge this is not an expensive
piece of equipment and can be bought from most parts stores or online. You don't need
anything hi-tech or the latest digital ones just the standard analogue is fit for the job.
Inflating tyres at home can get a bit tricky as you would need a compressor. An electrical
pump would be the ideal investment, if not a regular visit to the petrol station and at a cost
of no more than a pound you can easily check all your tyre pressures. The types of gauges
available are shown below

Some cars now have pressure sensors fitted to the valves and can
in the car. There are also other advances including sensitive cap
after markets. These can be fitted to the tyres inlet valve, and
visible on the cap at all times. They act as a permanently fixed tyre

display the tyre pressure

gauges now available in
give a constant reading
pressure gauge.

In the UK, we are used to reading the tyre pressure in psi, but it is also given in bars as wel.
Most Europeans tend to use the bar indications but it would be best to get a gauge that
displays both psi and bar readings.

Tyre Law

The law of the country is that the tread depth must

not be under the legal limit of 1.6mm. The full extent
of the 1.6mm rule is explained below:
The grooves of the tread must not be lower than
1.6mm through out a continuous band and must be
of the breadth and entire outer circumference of
the tyre.
The tyres on the car must also be correctly matched,
so they should be the correct type, correct size,
correct structure and they should be on the correct
axle of the vehicle

How to check tread depth

Most tyres now also have a depth indicator as shown in the picture above. The
depth indicator is placed around the tyre within the groove. This is an easy
way to check your tread depth. Once this groove indicator levels off with the
top the tread the tyres are at 1.6mm.
Our advice is that you should change your tyres at 2mm and dont risk getting
penalty points or a fine. More importantly the more a tyre wears the less it is
able to function in the wet. The importance of changing your tyres early was
highlighted recently by Continental and tests carried out by Auto express.
demonstrated that a tyre with 3mm tread reaming had nearly a quarter less of
the stopping distance of a tyre at 1.6mm whilst travelling at 50mph. This

could be the difference between hitting an obstacle or even saving a life.

The tread depth groove in the tyres will tell you when your tyres are at the
bare legal minimum of 1.6mm, ideally you should change your tyres earlier.
The best way to check you tread depth is to buy a tread depth gauge. The

Tyre rotation

Tyre wear varies depending on where it is fitted. If a car is front wheel drive then the fronts
will wear out a lot quicker than the rear ones, the rear tyres can do twice as many miles to
the front. If your car is rear wheel drive, then the rears will wear a little faster although there
isn't a lot of difference from front to back with these cars. Another thing that has been
observed is the passenger side front tyre also wears out a little quicker than the right. In
most cases tyre life can be increased by the occasional switch around. One thing to
remember is that changing from front to back can have safety implications especially if they
are delayed in being switched.
Most people would normally opt for new tyres or the
ones that have more tread to be fitted to the front
of the car. When in actual fact they should be fitted
to the rear. If the front has better grip then the rear
there is a risk of an accident, the vehicle could spin
or swerve especially in wet conditions. Tyre safety
organizations recommend that all new tyres should be fitted on the rear axle first. If you are

switching old tyres around then bearing the above in mind the rear tyres should be in better
or the same condition as the front.
Tyres that have a rotation marking cannot be switched from the drivers side to the
passengers side or vice versa. You would have to demount the tyre from the rim and switch
the rotation to do that. Otherwise they can only be moved from back to front and not side to
side.
Manufacturers differ on when you should switch tyres around, although most commonly it is
suggested you make the switch every 2000 to 3000 miles.
Please be aware that some cars have a different front size to the rear, in this case no switch
around can be made.

Tyre tread Depth

The legal minimum tyre tread depth for cars, vans, eight-seater vehicles and
light trailers, including caravans up to 3,500kgs in gross vehicle weight, is
1.6mm. This 1.6mm should be in a continuous band throughout the central
three-quarters of the tread width, throughout the whole of the circumference.
Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight or gross train weight over 3,500kgs or
a motorcycle above 50cc, must have tyres in which the grooves of the tread
pattern have a depth of a least 1 mm throughout a continuous band
measuring at least three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and round the
entire outer circumference of the tyre. If the grooves of the original tread
pattern of the tyre do not extend beyond three-quarters of the breadth of the
tread (this is common with motorcycle tyres) any groove of the original pattern
must have a minimum depth of at least one millimetre.

http://www.rospa.com/road-safety/advice/vehicles/tyre-safetytechnology/information/

Tyre Information - 2012

If you are searching for a specific topic then you can use the links below to navigate around the
page.

General Tyre Information

Tyre Maintenance

Tyre Ageing

Tyre Law

Part Worn Tyres

Retreaded Tyres

There are also seperate pages on the RoSPA website discussing Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems
(TPMS) and Runflat Tyres.

Safe Tyres Are Vital!

Tyres are the vehicle's only point of contact with the road. The actual area of contact between the car
and the road through the tyres is small, roughly equivalent to four size eight men's shoes. Bald tyres
- 'slicks' - may be fine for a race car on a dry track, but no good at all for road vehicles on a wet road
surface. Tyres treads are designed to pump water from the road surface and provide maximum grip.
By the time the tread is worn down to the legal limit they will be unable to perform this task efficiently
and MUST be replaced.
RoSPA recommends that worn tyres are replaced with an equivalent new unit well before the legal
minimum tread limit of 1.6mm is reached - ideally as soon as they reach 3mm.
There is a fact sheet on the RoSPA website discussing Tread Depth and Wet Weather Stopping
Distances.
The
Right
Tyres
for
the
Vehicle
Motor vehicle manufacturers choose the type, make, size, profile, load carrying capacities and speed
ratings to match their vehicles, adjusting the tyre pressures to give the optimum grip, ride and

handling characteristics. Only change the type of tyres on your vehicle on expert advice from the
vehicle manufacturer, or tyre manufacturer.

Tyre Maintenance
Tread
depth
Pay special attention to the amount of tread remaining on your tyres, and measure them regularly
(details of minimum legal tread depths is given below). Always replace tyres before they reach the
legal limit.
Pressures
The vehicle's handbook provides guidance about how to look after your tyres. It will also contain
information about vehicle loading and the required adjustments to tyre pressures which should be
followed for safety. Tyre pressures should always be checked and corrected (if necessary) when they
are cold. It is vital that tyre pressures are maintained at the levels recommended by the manufacturer
to ensure maximum tyre life, safety, the best ride and handling characteristics.
Over or under-inflating tyres is likely to seriously impair their performance and may prejudice the safe
use of the vehicle. Over-inflation increases overall tyre diameter, decreases the amount of tread in
contact with the road, decreases sidewall flexibility and affects road-adhesion. Under-inflation
decreases overall tyre diameter, increases sidewall flexion, generates higher tyre operating
temperatures and difficult vehicle handling characteristics. Running an under-inflated tyre may cause
premature tyre failure. Both over and under-inflation adversely affect tyre life.
Cleaning
treads
Keep tyre treads clean of stones and other foreign bodies, and check regularly for damage to the
tread and side-walls. It is vitally important that any damage is checked out by a tyre expert and any
necessary repairs or replacements are carried out immediately.
Tyre
valves
Check tyre valves carefully. Ensure the caps are in place and that there is no evidence of cracking or
damage to the valve stem.

Tyre Ageing
Rubber compounds used in tyres contain anti-oxidising chemicals that help to slow down the natural
ageing process of untreated rubber. However, tyres do deteriorate with age, which increases the risk
of tyre failure, and there are many ways in which this can be spotted:

Cracking/crazing on the side wall of the tyre, caused by its flexing

Distortion of tyre tread

Deformation of the carcass of the tyre

There will also be a deterioration of the ride quality caused by vibrations through the tyre. This may
signify the tyre's performance has been affected by age and should be investigated as soon as
possible.
All tyres that display signs of ageing should be removed and not put to further use.
Tyres that have been in storage should not be placed into use if they are over 6 years old, from their
date of manufacture. When a tyre has been in use, the effects of ageing are lessened to a degree,
but such tyres should be replaced after 10 years.
The effects of ageing can be brought about prematurely in several conditions. Tyres fitted as spare
wheels or used on caravans and trailers may age prematurely. If tyres on caravans or trailers are not
in regular use, then they should be inspected before every journey. Tyres used predominantly in
coastal areas will age at a greater rate due to the saline conditions, and several cleaning products
may also harm the chemicals in the rubber.
In most circumstances tread depth can be used as a suitable indication of when tyres should be
replaced - as tyre treads generally wear out before their age effects their performance. However, the
age of a tyre will affect its safety and increase the risk of failure, and you should inspect tyres for the
signs of aging regularly.

The Tyre Law

Tyre
pressures
Tyre pressures should be maintained at or within a very close tolerance of the recommended
pressures.
Tyre
tread
depth
and
damage
When tyres become worn or damaged they must be replaced. There must, by law, be at least 1.6mm
of tread depth across the centre 3/4 of the width of the tread throughout the entire circumference of
the tyre. There must be no damage to the tyre body - sidewalls or tread, no bulges or cuts.
Tyre
types
It is illegal to mix tyres of a different construction (cross-ply; bias belted or radial) on the same axle.
Cross-ply and bias-belted tyres are seldom used on production cars, and are not widely available in
the UK. Cross-ply and radial tyres should never be mixed on the same vehicle. Where a mix is
necessary, radial tyres MUST only ever be used on the rear axle and cross-ply tyres on the front.
This mix of tyres will produce 'understeer' whereas the opposite will produce 'oversteer'. (Oversteer
refers to the car turning more tightly into a corner than it is steered; understeer indicates that the
vehicle turns at less of an angle than it is steered). Of the two conditions, understeer is generally
accepted to be easier to control.

Part-Worn Tyres
What
are
part-worn
tyres?
'Part-worn' tyres are those which have been used previously - in other words they are 'second-hand'.
Most part-worn tyres are imported, mainly coming from continental Europe.
What
are
the
potential
problems
with
part-worn
tyres?
Part-worn tyres are usually sold with about 50 per cent or less of their original tread remaining (legal
minimum is 2mm) and may have a few thousand miles more motoring in them. However, despite
their remaining tread, it must be appreciated part-worn tyres are nevertheless USED TYRES. As
such their purchase and use should be treated with a degree of healthy scepticism. In many cases,
such tyres will be perfectly sound. However, it is possible that they have been bumped up and down
kerbs and over other obstacles. They may have been run over or under-inflated, and may have
sustained irreparable and invisible damage to their structure.
The cost of part-worn tyres reflects their second-hand state and this no doubt contributes to their
attraction to motorists. The purchase and use of part-worn, instead of new, tyres may enable some
owners to afford to keep their vehicles on the road. The tyre industry continues to express concern
about the sale and use of part worn tyres. However, it is important to consider the issue objectively
and make a reasoned judgement about the real risks of using such tyres.
RoSPA's advice, like that of Trading Standards Officers, is 'let the buyer beware'. Whether the
purchase of part-worn tyres is a good economic proposition or not, there can be little argument that a
tyre which is only half worn but is in all other aspects sound, is likely to be safer than a tyre worn to
the legal limit.
Before purchasing part-worn tyres always ask to see them inflated before they are fitted to the
vehicle and check for any lumps or bulges. Part worn tyres should also be checked for signs of tyre
ageing as described elsewhere in this fact sheet. If they show signs of ageing then you should not
purchase them.

Retreaded Tyres
What
is
a
retreaded
tyre?
A retreaded tyre also known as a remould is made from a used tyre. Old tyres which are not
sound should never be used as components for retread tyres. The essential building block for a
retreaded tyre is a used tyre whose tread is worn-out but whose carcass (basic structure) is sound.
Retreading involves stripping away both the remaining tread and sidewall of the used tyre. The final
part of the process moulds new rubber to the old carcass.
What
standards
govern
the
production
of
retreaded
tyres?
In the past, retread tyres have been manufactured in accordance with BS AU 44e. However, this

standard did not specify a type approval test for retreaded tyres, which would guarantee a standard
tyre quality.
On 1st January in 2004, ECE Regulations 108 and 109 came into effect, making it mandatory for
retreaded tyres to be subject to a type approval test. This ensures that retread manufacturers must
meet a specified basic standard in terms of the tyres' suitability for retreading prior to the process,
and their performance after it. It is now illegal to sell retreaded tyres that that do not have the "e"
mark.
Are
there
any
problems
with
retreaded
tyres?
In the majority of cases, retreaded tyres perform satisfactorily provided the manufacturer's guidance
about maximum vehicle loadings and maximum speeds is followed. Like all tyres; overloading,
sustained high speeds, and under or over-inflation all contribute to increased tyre wear and/or
premature failure.
Never buy a retreaded tyre without the "e" mark.

The National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) says there is need to consider a ban on the importation of
used tyres, which increase the risk of road crashes by 30 percent. The Commission said in the short-term
it will intensify education of motorists to embrace best practices regarding the use of vehicle tyres, but a
ban
may
be
appropriate
in
future.
NRSC has been advocating the need for motorists to embrace best practices regarding the use of tyres
as an important requirement in order to deliver on the demands of safer vehicles within the framework of
the NRSC Strategy III (2011 to 2020), said David Adonteng, the Commissions Director of Research,
Monitoring
&Evaluation,
at
a
road-sector
stakeholders
meeting
in
Accra.
He said the Commission in its advocacy and research conducted a study on the magnitude of the use of
home-used tyres and its impact on the road safety situation in Ghana, and the findings, among others,
confirmed that 75 percent of tyres imported into the country are used tyres -- which indicates that three in
every
four
tyres
sold
in
Ghana
are
used
ones.
Over 15 percent of vehicles involved in fatal crashes had some form of tyre-defect prior to the crash, the
study found, while 85 percent of respondents said they only check their vehicle tyre-pressure when it is
low.
Most tyres used in the country have either expired or have a reduced lifespan. Their reliability is highly
variable and this has very high implications for road safety, said Rudolph Beckley, Deputy Director,
Research, Monitoring & Evaluation. He said motorists driving on worn tyres are more likely to be the party
at fault in accidents, and the probability of a crash occurrence in wet conditions is very high. He urged
vehicle users to check their tyre-pressure once daily because most tyres may naturally lose air over time,
adding that tyres can also lose air suddenly if a vehicle drives over a pothole or strikes the curb when
parking.
Mr. Adonteng said it is necessary to intensify the regulation of tyres imported into the country, and added
that the Commission is mulling a regulation that will require all tyre dealers or vendors to provide
consumers
with
detailed
information
about
the
tyres
they
are
buying.
The European Union, according to him, introduced a similar regulation in November last year which
requires that new tyres sold in the EU be classified in a similar way to household goods, providing
consumers
with
more
detailed
information
about
the
tyres
they
are
buying.
But it is also important to step-up education of motorists about the dangers involved in the use of used
tyres, Mr. Adonteng said. We are going to champion this cause by recognising vulcanisers associations
and filling stations, since they are the fist point of call when a driver detects a problem on his tyre.
He also asked the Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) to engage the tyre dealers and explain
to them that vehicle tyres that are more than four years old from their manufacturing date should not be
imported into the country, since they are classified as sub-standard products.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of tyres imported into the country are used or substandard, which contribute to 4.4% out of 15.2% vehicular fatal accidents on our
roads, according to research conducted by the National Road Safety Commission
(NRSC) in 2008.