As the component that puts your car in touch with the road beneath, your tyres are no doubt important. It should therefore come as no surprise that tyre maintenance should be a top priority all year round.
Come winter, the condition of your tyres becomes even more crucial. The wet, snowy and icy weather conditions mean your tyres have to perform more safely and precisely than ever. Whether taking on journeys long or short this winter, adding these tyre checks to your car maintenance to-do list is a must for safe driving.
By law, the tread depth of your tyres should be at least 1.6mm - that’s deeper than the outer band of a 20p coin. It’s recommended that you do your own ‘20p test’ every two to three weeks, and more specifically before long journeys, to ensure your tyres are above the legal limit.
During winter, you should step up the frequency of your tread depth checks, ensuring that the depth is well above the legal limit. Due to the cold, damp and icy roads, your tyre’s grip may be loosened, meaning you need all the help you can get from a decent tread depth to negotiate conditions safely.
Remember it’s illegal to drive a car with a tread depth below 1.6mm. Don’t take the risk – complete the check regularly to stay safe on the road and avoid a hefty £2,500 fine plus three penalty points.
It’s not just your car tyres’ tread depth that could diminish their performance on winter roads. Driving on incorrectly inflated tyres can negatively affect handling, braking and steering, not to mention influence ride quality and fuel efficiency, especially when driving on ice or snow.
As the required tyre pressure varies depending on your vehicle make and model, and tyre type, you should aim to keep the pressure of all your tyres at the manufacturer’s recommended level. Investing in your own tyre pressure gauge is a simple and affordable way to check your tyre pressure at home.
If your tyre pressure is low, top it up to the required level as soon as possible. Don’t forget to check the pressure of all your tyres, including your spare.
Driving on damaged tyres is a big no-no. Poorly maintained tyres are particularly vulnerable to damage, whilst their condition will also diminish over time. Check each tyre for signs of wear, tear and other damage regularly, especially during the winter months.
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