You do not need a garage or a gauge to catch most tyre problems early. The checks below take five minutes, need nothing but a 20p coin and a thumb, and cover everything that typically sends a tyre to the workshop. If anything here looks familiar, our free check will confirm it - no appointment needed.
The Twenty-Pence Tread Test
Slide a 20p coin into the main grooves of each tyre, several places around the circumference. If you can see the coin's outer silver band above the tread, your tyre is at or below the 1.6mm legal minimum and must be replaced. Between 1.6mm and 3mm you are legal but wet stopping is already deteriorating - start budgeting for new rubber soon.
Look For The Wear Bars
Every UK tyre has moulded-in tread wear indicators - raised bars sitting at the bottom of the grooves, usually marked with a small triangle on the sidewall. When those bars sit level with the tread surface, the tyre is at the legal limit and needs changing regardless of what the coin test suggests.
Check Pressures When Cold
Pressure readings only mean anything when the tyre is cold, so check at the start of a journey rather than after a drive. Find the correct figures on the sticker inside the driver door frame or fuel flap - they are quoted by axle and rise when you carry a full load. We cover this in detail in our tyre pressure guide.
Read The Age Of Your Tyre
Rubber hardens with age even when tread looks generous. The four-digit date code on the sidewall - for example 2624 meaning week 26 of 2024 - tells you exactly how old a tyre is. Around six years it needs a professional inspection, and by ten it should be replaced on principle. This matters most on spare tyres, trailers and caravans that sit unused for months.
Inspect The Sidewalls
Run a hand around the full sidewall of each tyre and feel for anything out of the ordinary: cuts, splits, bulges, or a line of cracks where the rubber has perished with age. A bulge is particularly serious - it means the internal cord is broken and the tyre can fail suddenly. Any bulge means replacement, not repair.
Notice How The Car Feels
- A steady vibration through the steering usually points at balance or alignment
- Pulling to one side can mean a slow puncture or a pressure difference
- A low rhythmic thump often means a bulge or a badly worn tyre
- Wandering on cambered roads can indicate worn or under-inflated rubber
- Any of these, plus visibly uneven wear, deserves a proper look
Flat or rapidly dropping tyres, exposed cords, or any visible bulge mean do not drive - call us and we will sort it quickly. Otherwise, if your home check flags anything at all, our free check will measure it properly and tell you honestly what that means. It might reassure you - or it might save you an MOT failure and a fine.
Frequently Asked
How often should I check my tyres?
Monthly is a sensible habit, plus before any long trip. Add a quick visual once-over whenever the car is washed or parked at home - it takes seconds.
Is 3mm of tread legal but safe?
Legal, definitely - but wet-weather stopping distance has already grown noticeably by 3mm. We advise planning replacement from 3mm down rather than waiting for the 1.6mm limit.
Can a tyre with a bulge be repaired?
No. A bulge means broken internal structure and the tyre must be replaced - repairs are only possible on sound rubber within the repairable zone.