What Are the Indicators of Tyre Wear?
Do you know how worn your tyres are? Tyres are the only part of your vehicle that touches the road, and their condition greatly impacts your driving safety and how well your car performs. A quick and simple way to check the health of your tyres is by looking at your tyres’ wear indicator—an important feature that helps determine if your tyres are still in good condition and safe for the road.
What Is a Tyre Wear Indicator?
Tyre wear indicators are raised bars or ridges built into the grooves of your tyre’s tread. The purpose of these indicators is to show the extent of tread wear, so you know when it’s time to replace the tyre. When the tread wears down to the level of the indicator, it’s a sign your tyre has reached the legal tyre wear limit and needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
There are several tyre wear indicators evenly spaced around the tyre to make it easy to check tread depth at different points, as your tyres may not wear evenly. Manufacturers include these wear indicators on all tyres to help drivers easily check the tread depth and determine if a tyre replacement is needed.
Why Are Tyre Wear Indicators Important?
Ignoring your tyre wear indicators can lead to accidents and costly repairs. They’re essential for your driving safety and ensuring optimal performance for your vehicle.
Improved Road Safety
Tyres with too little tread depth can’t effectively clear water on the road, which increases the chance of skidding or aquaplaning, especially in wet weather conditions.
Legal Requirements
In Australia, the law requires your tyre tread depth to be at least 1.5mm. Driving with tyres that don’t meet this standard can lead to fines. Regularly checking the wear indicators and replacing your tyres if needed ensures you’re following the law.
Save Money
Tyre wear indicators exist so you can identify problems like uneven tyre wear early. Easy solutions, such as rotating your tyres for more even wear distribution, can help your tyres last longer, prolonging the need for a more costly tyre replacement.
Optimised Driving
Worn tyres negatively impact your car’s handling, fuel efficiency, and braking distance due to reduced traction. Ensuring proper tread depth means your car will perform better on the road.
Finding Tyre Wear Indicators on Your Vehicle
Finding the wear indicators on your tyres is easy when you know what to look for. It’s particularly important to monitor vehicle tyre wear if you regularly drive on rougher terrain, as worn tyres make it harder to keep grip and control your vehicle.
Look for Sidewall Markings
The sidewall of many tyres has small markings like arrows, triangles, or brand logos. These markings show where the wear indicators are located inside the grooves of the tread.
Check the Tread Grooves
Inside the tread grooves, you’ll find small ridges or bars that run across the grooves. These are the wear indicators, which are evenly spaced around the tyre.
Inspect All Tyres
Tyres can wear unevenly, especially if tyre rotation hasn’t been performed regularly. Make sure you check all tyres to confirm they’re safe and within the legal limits. Some tyre brands make it even easier with specific symbols. For example, Michelin tyres often use the Michelin Man logo to highlight where the indicators can be found.
Checking Tyre Tread Depth
Inspecting your tyre wear indicators is the quickest way to check your tyres’ condition, but there are other methods you can use to measure tread depth more accurately. Regularly checking tread depth is an easy way to keep your tyres safe and ensure they meet legal requirements.
- Use a Tread Depth Gauge: A tool that you can insert into a tyre’s grooves to measure tread depth. Tyre wear can be uneven, so check several points around the tyre.
- The Coin Test: If you don’t have a gauge, a 20-cent coin can help. Insert it into the tread with the platypus’s bill down. If the tread doesn’t cover the bill, your tyres are likely too worn.
- Look Closely: Sometimes, just visually inspecting your tyres is enough. If the tread is level with the wear indicator bars, or very close to it, it’s time to replace your tyres.
Visit Tyrepower for Professional Tyre Services & Advice
Although you can check your tyres at home, we recommend getting a professional opinion for the best assessment. Tyrepower offers a full range of services to help you maintain and replace your tyres with ease. Our expert team can measure tread depth, inspect for damage, and help you choose the best replacement tyres for your car. We also provide services for wheel alignment and tyre rotation to prolong the lifespan of your tyres. With over 300 stores across Australia, Tyrepower is your go-to for tyre care and maintenance! Stay on top of tyre wear by visiting Tyrepower today to find your nearest store and book an appointment. We’re here to help you drive safely and confidently.
