Tread wear indicator bars are moulded into the tread grooves at regular intervals around the tyre to indicate when a tyre is worn to its limit of safety. The minimum legal tread depth is 1.5 mm across the width of the tread. When the tyre is worn to the legal limit the bars will be flush with the surface of the tread.
If you drive a typical number of miles, somewhere around 12,000-15,000 miles annually, a tire's tread will wear out in three to four years, long before the rubber compound does. But if you drive much less than that, or have a car that you only drive on weekends, aging tires could be an issue.
Cracks on the sidewall occur because over time the oils and chemicals in the rubber compound, that so long kept the tyre intact, gradually evaporate or break down due to over exposure to UV rays of the sun. Also over time, the rubber loses its tightness and cracks begin to appear.
Do modern tyres perish ? should I be worried ? Yes, they can perish on the sidewalls, and yes you should be worried. They need to be replaced.
Cracks on the sidewall occur because over time the oils and chemicals in the rubber compound, that so long kept the tyre intact, gradually evaporate or break down due to over exposure to UV rays of the sun. Also over time, the rubber loses its tightness and cracks begin to appear.
A new Tyre can last anything between 25000 to 50000 kms on Indian Roads. Age is also a factor. A general rule of thumb is to change your tyres every 6 years, even if the tyres have not worn down much, as rubber rot may have started to set in (Below image).
You can find the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle in your vehicle handbook or printed either in the sill of the driver's door or on the inside of the fuel tank flap. Your vehicle manufacturer may suggest different tyre pressures for your front and rear tyres so make sure you aware of these guidelines.
Tyre pressures are normally higher in the front than the rear, to compensate for the extra weight of the engine and transmission, especially on front-wheel-drive cars. Some makers (BMW is one) run lower pressures in the front, mainly to improve tyre wear on rear-wheel-drive cars.
Follow these steps to add air to your tires:
- Park your vehicle by the air dispenser.
- Remove the cap from the tire valve on the first tire.
- Use your tire gauge to check the air pressure in the tire.
- Use the air hose to add air in short bursts.
- Keep checking the pressure until you get it right.
Some manufacturers of all-wheel-drive vehicles recommend that all four tires be replaced, not just one or two, because a new tire will have a larger overall diameter than the other tires. The best approach, though, is to replace all four if the tread on the old tires is significantly worn.
10 best tyres in the world
- MICHELIN. Michelin is a famous French tyre brand, was founded by the Michelin brothers, Edouard and André Michelin.
- PIRELLI. Pirelli is the next name in the list of best tyre companies.
- COOPER.
- GOODYEAR.
- CONTINENTAL.
- DUNLOP.
- BFGOODRICH.
- BRIDGESTONE.
Street tires
The grooves in the rubber are designed to allow water to be expelled from beneath the tire and prevent hydroplaning. The proportion of rubber to air space on the road surface directly affects its traction. Design of tire tread has an effect upon noise generated, especially at freeway speeds.The low pressure allows the tyre to improve its traction and flexibility over the obstacles without impact fracturing. Higher pressures can be used but the trade off is more wheel spin and less grip. While lowering pressures does reduce the risk of overall damage, it could increase the risk of sidewall damage.
