When to Replace a Cracked Tyre: Safety Guide for Drivers

Noticed small cracks in your tyre tread or sidewall? Don’t ignore them. In this guide, we explain what causes tyre cracking, how it affects safety and performance, and when replacement becomes essential to avoid costly or dangerous failures on the road.

The tyres on your vehicle are, undoubtedly, crucial when it comes to keeping you on the road. Not only do they keep your vehicle moving but they keep you safe, able to brake suddenly and respond to twists and turns in the road surface.

And while we’re on the topic of road surfaces, we cannot argue that tyres soak up the impact of countless knocks in an effort to keep drivers and passengers comfortable. Potholes and lumps on the road can wreak havoc on tyres, with the inconsistency of the UK’s road quality meaning that checking your tyres has become an integral part of vehicle ownership and maintenance.

One common sign of tyre damage is cracking in the tyre surface. But does a cracked tyre always need to be immediately replaced – and if not, when should a cracked tyre be replaced?

What Causes Tyres to Crack?

The tyres on any vehicle are finished with an outer surface of rubber. This rubber consists of countless polymers formed together into rubber molecules. As these molecules start to breakdown, the tyre surface can become cracked.

These cracks do not immediately create holes in the tyre and so the inflation of the tyre is not usually affected by minor cracks – though this kind of damage does affect the integrity of the tyre and makes it more susceptible to other forms of damage. 

Some of the most common causes of cracked tyres include:

• Extreme heat
• Age 
• The vehicle not being used regularly, meaning the tyres are left to stand without moving for extended periods
• Water damage on the inside of the tyre
• Pressure of overinflated tyres
• Excessive heat generated by underinflated tyres

Suffice to say, cracked tyres can be and often are caused by a number of potential issues – which can make monitoring your tyre’s integrity and stability difficult. As a result, vehicle owners will often notice cracks that appear seemingly out of nowhere, with no guaranteed indication of when the damage first appeared. 

This is why, when it comes to cracked tyres, it is often better to get them checked and ideally replaced sooner rather than later.

Does a Cracked Tyre Need to be Immediately Replaced?

While a cracked tyre is not as immediately dangerous as a flat tyre, vehicle owners should know that as soon as your tyre is cracked the structural integrity of the tyre is compromised, and it needs replacing as soon as possible. 

The structural damage of a cracked tyre means that more severe damage is more likely to occur should you hit a pothole or bump in the road. What’s more, a crack can indicate signs of internal deterioration that can render the tyre less reactive on the road surface.

What all of this means is that, when you notice a crack on your tyre, it needs replacing – even if it isn’t necessarily affecting the feel or drive of your car from the driving seat. The reality is that a cracked tyre is doing more damage than what you can see and is more likely to suffer extensive damage the next time you drive over a pothole or bump in the road.

And when you do notice a crack in your tyre, you’ll want to have the Tyres.co.uk team at hand. Armed with specialist tyre suppliers and some of the best brands on the market, all available at leading prices, we’ll help get you back on the road in no time.