As autumn settles in and winter approaches, UK roads become wetter, colder and more challenging. Darker mornings, heavy rain and lower temperatures can all affect driving conditions, making this an important time to check the condition of your tyres.
Your tyres are the only part of your vehicle in direct contact with the road, so their condition has a major influence on braking, steering and grip.
At Segensworth Automobiles, we recommend making tyre checks part of your regular vehicle maintenance, particularly as we head into the colder months.
Why Are Tyres More Important in Autumn and Winter?
Rain, standing water and colder road surfaces can reduce the amount of grip available to your vehicle.
The tread pattern on your tyres is designed to disperse water from between the tyre and the road. As tyres become worn, they become less effective at doing this, which can affect grip and increase the risk of aquaplaning in wet conditions.
TyreSafe advises that cold and damp roads can significantly affect tyre performance and recommends regular tyre checks throughout the winter months.
That means a tyre which may have seemed perfectly acceptable during the summer deserves another look before the worst of the autumn and winter weather arrives.
Check Your Tyre Tread Depth
For most cars and light vans in the UK, the legal minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre and around its entire circumference.
However, the legal minimum should not necessarily be treated as a target.
As tread becomes shallower, a tyre has less ability to clear water from the road surface. This can result in reduced wet weather performance and longer stopping distances.
A simple way to keep an eye on your tyres is to regularly inspect the tread across the full tyre rather than checking one point alone.
If the tread is getting close to the legal limit, it may be sensible to consider replacement rather than waiting until it reaches 1.6mm.
Check Your Tyre Pressures
Correct tyre pressure is also important throughout the year.
Tyres should be inflated to the pressure recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. The correct pressures can normally be found in your vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler flap or on a label inside one of the doors.
The Highway Code states that tyres must be correctly inflated to the manufacturer’s specification for the load being carried.
Incorrect tyre pressures can affect:
- Handling
- Braking
- Tyre wear
- Fuel economy
- Overall vehicle stability
It is worth checking your pressures regularly and particularly before a long journey.
For the most accurate reading, check them when the tyres are cold.
Look for Cracks, Bulges and Other Damage
Tread depth is only one part of tyre safety.
Take a few moments to inspect the sidewalls and visible tread for anything unusual, including:
- Cuts or cracking
- Bulges in the sidewall
- Embedded objects such as nails or screws
- Uneven tread wear
- Damage caused by kerbs or potholes
A bulge or significant cut should not be ignored as it may indicate damage to the internal structure of the tyre.
The Government also advises motorists to ensure tyres have sufficient tread and are free from cuts and defects as part of keeping a vehicle roadworthy.
Watch Out for Uneven Tyre Wear
If one part of your tyre is wearing considerably faster than another, there may be an underlying problem.
Uneven wear can sometimes be linked to incorrect tyre pressure, wheel alignment or suspension issues.
You might notice that the inside or outside edge of the tyre is wearing faster, or that one tyre looks noticeably different from the others.
Identifying these problems early may help prevent premature tyre replacement and can highlight other issues with your vehicle that need attention.
What About Winter Tyres?
Winter tyres are not a legal requirement in the UK, but they are designed to perform differently in colder conditions.
TyreSafe explains that when temperatures fall below around 7°C, the compound used in standard tyres begins to harden, which can reduce grip. Winter tyres use different compounds designed to remain more flexible at lower temperatures.
Whether winter tyres are worthwhile will depend on your vehicle, where you drive and the conditions you regularly encounter.
For many drivers on the South Coast, the most important starting point is simply making sure that the tyres already fitted to the vehicle are in good condition, correctly inflated and have plenty of usable tread.
Remember That an MOT Is Only a Snapshot
Passing an MOT does not mean that your tyres will automatically remain safe until the next test.
Tyres continue to wear every time you drive, and damage can happen at any point during the year.
The Government makes it clear that drivers are responsible for ensuring their vehicle remains roadworthy even when it has a valid MOT certificate.
Regular checks between MOTs are therefore important.
Get Your Car Ready for the Colder Months
Tyres are easy to overlook until something goes wrong, but checking them regularly takes only a few minutes.
As we head further into autumn, take a look at your tyre tread, pressures and general condition. If something does not look right, having it checked early is always preferable to discovering a problem on a cold, wet journey.
At Segensworth Automobiles, we provide MOTs, servicing, repairs and general vehicle maintenance for motorists across Fareham, Segensworth, Whiteley, Locks Heath, Hedge End and the surrounding area.
If you have concerns about your tyres or would like your vehicle checked ahead of winter, speak to our team.
Segensworth Automobiles
01489 662 000
sales@segensworth-automobiles.co.uk
