The average lifespan of a tyre is 5 to 6 years, with around 20,000 miles of driving before replacement is usually needed. Your tyres might need replacing sooner if you notice damage, uneven wear or the tread has started wearing down more than normal.
It is important for your safety, and the safety of others on the road, to regularly check your tyres and their air pressure. Pay attention to how the car feels as well. If something suddenly feels different when steering, or you notice a change while driving, get the tyres checked rather than leaving them until later.
The most obvious sign of a worn tyre is usually the tread. In the UK, the legal minimum tread depth for a car tyre is 1.6mm. Once your tyre gets below this, you should not be driving on the tyre.
One easy way of checking at home is with a 20p coin. Put the coin into the main tread of your tyre and look at the outer band. If you still see the band, your tread is getting too low and replacement is due.
There are other things worth looking for too. Cracks on the sidewall, uneven tread, cuts or a bulge in the tyre are all signs something is wrong. If you notice any of these, have the tyre checked. Leaving a damaged tyre on the car is not worth taking the risk.
Knowing your tyre size makes buying replacements a lot easier. You’ll find the size on the sidewall of your current tyre, along with information such as the width, aspect ratio, load rating and speed rating.
It looks like a random mix of letters and numbers at first, but each part means something. Have a look at our Tyre Size Guides if you are unsure what you are looking at before placing your order.
There is more to changing a tyre than taking the old one off and putting a new one on. Wheel balancing is part of getting the fitting right, while alignment might also need checking depending on the vehicle and how the tyres have been wearing.
The price of a new tyre varies quite a bit. Generally, you are looking at around £50 as a starting point for a new car tyre, with plenty costing more depending on what you need.
Brand makes a difference. So does the tyre size, and whether you are looking for summer, winter or all-season tyres. Tyres.co.uk lets you compare the different prices before buying, rather than having to check each brand separately.
If you are unsure where to spend your money, our guides cover the differences between budget, mid-range and premium tyres, including what you get for the extra cost.
Price matters when buying tyres, although spending more does not always mean you are getting a better tyre for your car. There is a reason why budget, mid-range, premium and high-performance tyres all exist. What makes sense for you depends on the car, how much driving you do and what you expect from the tyres.
The way you use your car is worth thinking about too. Short trips around town are different from doing hundreds of motorway miles every week, and the weather where you live also makes a difference. All of this helps work out where spending extra money is worthwhile, and where there is no need.
At Tyres.co.uk we sell major brands including Continental, Michelin, Pirelli and Bridgestone, together with lower-priced choices such as Yokohama and Hankook. You might already have a brand you always buy, or you might have a price in mind and start from there. There are options for both.
Your tyres are bound to give you trouble at some point. A puncture on the motorway. Sidewall damage while you are out. Or you come outside in the morning and one of the tyres has lost pressure.
This is where mobile fitting comes in. We bring the new tyres to your location and the fitter does the work there, rather than you having to get the car over to a garage first. Once the tyres are fitted, you are ready to get back on the road.
Would you rather take the car into a garage? That works too. Enter your postcode and find a tyre fitting centre nearby, then have your tyres sent there ready for fitting. Whichever suits you better.
