Your tyres are the only contact between your vehicle and the road. These four patches of rubber, each roughly the size of a handprint, are responsible for acceleration, braking, steering, and handling in all conditions. Despite this critical role, tyres are often overlooked until problems become obvious—and by then, safety may already be compromised.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about tyre maintenance, from pressure checks to understanding wear patterns, helping you maximise safety, performance, and tyre lifespan.
Understanding Tyre Pressure
Correct tyre pressure is fundamental to safe driving. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption, wear faster, generate excessive heat, and can fail catastrophically. Over-inflated tyres have reduced grip, wear unevenly, and provide a harsher ride.
Finding the Correct Pressure
Your vehicle's recommended tyre pressures are printed on a placard, usually found inside the driver's door jamb or in the fuel filler flap area. These pressures are engineered specifically for your vehicle and may differ between front and rear tyres. Some vehicles recommend different pressures for different load conditions.
- Check pressures when tyres are cold (before driving or 3+ hours after)
- Check at least monthly, and before long trips
- Use a reliable gauge—servo station gauges can be inaccurate
- Don't forget the spare tyre
- Adjust for load—increase pressure when carrying heavy loads
- The pressure on the tyre sidewall is the maximum, not the recommendation
Pressure Monitoring Systems
Many modern vehicles include Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) that alert you when pressure drops significantly. However, TPMS typically only warns when pressure is dangerously low—well below optimal. Don't rely solely on TPMS; regular manual checks remain essential. Aftermarket TPMS units are available for older vehicles and provide real-time pressure monitoring.
Tread Depth and Legal Requirements
Tyre tread provides grip, particularly in wet conditions where it channels water away from the contact patch. As tread wears, wet weather performance degrades significantly.
Australian Legal Requirements
In Australia, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.5mm across the central three-quarters of the tread pattern. However, safety organisations recommend replacing tyres at 3mm—at 1.5mm, wet weather stopping distances can increase dramatically compared to new tyres.
- Tread wear indicators are raised bars in the tread grooves
- When tread wears level with these bars, the tyre must be replaced
- A tread depth gauge provides accurate measurements
- Check multiple points across the tyre—wear may be uneven
- The 20-cent coin test: insert a coin into the tread; if the outer band is visible, consider replacement
Understanding Wear Patterns
Tyre wear patterns reveal underlying issues with your vehicle. Understanding these patterns helps diagnose problems before they become serious.
Centre Wear
Wear concentrated in the centre of the tread typically indicates over-inflation. The tyre bulges in the middle, causing the centre to contact the road more heavily than the edges. Correct your inflation pressure and check for slow leaks that might have led to over-compensation.
Edge Wear
Wear on both edges while the centre remains relatively unworn suggests under-inflation. The tyre sags, putting more pressure on the shoulders. This is common when pressures haven't been checked regularly. Under-inflation also generates excess heat, which can lead to sudden failure.
One-Sided Wear
Excessive wear on one side of the tyre indicates alignment problems. The wheel is tilted (camber issue) or pointing in the wrong direction (toe issue). This requires professional wheel alignment. Driving with misaligned wheels accelerates tyre wear and affects handling.
A cupped or scalloped wear pattern—irregular dips around the circumference—indicates worn suspension components, particularly shock absorbers. This pattern creates a noisy ride and worsens over time. Have your suspension inspected immediately if you notice this wear pattern.
Tyre Rotation
Rotating tyres between positions helps them wear evenly, extending overall tyre life. Different driving conditions—front-wheel drive versus rear-wheel drive, for example—cause different wear rates at each wheel position.
Rotation Patterns
The appropriate rotation pattern depends on your vehicle and tyre type. A common pattern for non-directional tyres is front-to-rear on the same side, with rear tyres crossing to opposite front positions. Directional tyres (those with arrows indicating rotation direction) can only swap front-to-rear on the same side. Consult your vehicle manual or tyre shop for the correct pattern.
Rotate tyres every 10,000-15,000 kilometres, or according to your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. Many people coincide rotation with oil changes for convenience.
Wheel Alignment and Balancing
Alignment and balancing are often confused but address different issues.
Wheel Alignment
Alignment adjusts the angles at which your wheels contact the road. Proper alignment ensures your vehicle tracks straight, handles predictably, and doesn't pull to one side. Alignment can drift over time or shift suddenly from impacts like hitting potholes. Signs of misalignment include steering wheel off-centre, vehicle pulling to one side, or uneven tyre wear.
Wheel Balancing
Balancing adds small weights to the wheel to compensate for minor imbalances in the tyre-wheel assembly. Imbalanced wheels cause vibration, typically felt in the steering wheel or through the seat. Balancing should be performed whenever new tyres are fitted and if vibration develops.
Choosing Replacement Tyres
When replacement time comes, selecting the right tyres matters for safety and performance.
Understanding Tyre Ratings
Tyre sidewalls contain coded information about size, load capacity, and speed rating. Your replacement tyres should meet or exceed your vehicle manufacturer's specifications. Consult your owner's manual or the placard in your vehicle for the correct size and ratings.
- Match the original equipment size unless upgrading deliberately
- Load and speed ratings must meet or exceed original specifications
- Consider your driving conditions—all-season, highway touring, performance, or off-road
- Research reviews and ratings for wet weather performance
- Balance price with quality—cheap tyres often compromise safety and wear quickly
- Replace all four tyres at once if possible for consistent handling
Mixing Tyres
Ideally, all four tyres should be identical. If replacing only two, put the new tyres on the rear axle regardless of which wheels drive—this provides better stability if you lose traction. Never mix different types of tyres (such as radial and cross-ply) on the same vehicle.
Tyre Age and Degradation
Tyres age even when not used. Rubber compounds harden and crack over time, reducing grip and increasing the risk of failure. Most manufacturers recommend replacing tyres older than 6-10 years, regardless of remaining tread depth.
Finding the Manufacture Date
The tyre's age is coded in the DOT number on the sidewall. The last four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture—for example, "2419" means the 24th week of 2019. Check this date when buying new tyres to ensure you're not getting old stock.
Responding to Tyre Emergencies
Knowing how to handle tyre emergencies can prevent accidents and reduce stress.
Blowout Response
If a tyre blows out while driving, don't panic or brake suddenly. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, take your foot off the accelerator, and let the car slow naturally. Gently steer to maintain your lane. Once your speed has dropped significantly, carefully move to the shoulder and stop. Only then apply the brakes gently.
Flat Tyre Procedure
If you notice a flat while driving, reduce speed and find a safe place to stop—preferably level, away from traffic, with firm ground for your jack. Never attempt to change a tyre in an unsafe location; driving slowly on a flat for a short distance is better than risking being hit by traffic.
Tyre care might seem mundane compared to other aspects of vehicle ownership, but it's fundamental to your safety. Regular attention to pressure, tread, and overall condition ensures your tyres perform as designed when you need them most—during emergency braking, in wet conditions, or on that unexpected corner. Make tyre checks part of your routine, and your tyres will look after you.