It’s more than just checking a tyre that is correctly inflated — you can find this information online or in your manufacturer’s handbook if you’re unsure.

It’s about making sure you understand what tyres in good condition look like, and you know the warning signs of tyres that need repairs or recycling, because driving on unsuitable tyres is a recipe for disaster. At the very least, you’ll find yourself unable to drive with a deflated tyre. At worst, it can cause an accident and result in fines, a criminal record, a jail sentence and loss of life. It’s really not worth the risk.

So let’s take a look at some of the more common tyre problems you definitely shouldn’t ignore.

Tyre Pressure Loss

Tyres will, over time, deflate slightly, but if you’re noticing you’re needing to fill them with air more frequently, or you’re coming out to go to work in the morning, and you have a flat tyre despite having only just inflated them you have a slow puncture somewhere that’s allowing the air to escape.

Sometimes this happens over the course of a day or overnight; other times it’s slower over a few days. But if you’re noticing you have flat tyres frequently its time to get them checked

Some tyres can benefit from a puncture repair if they’re still in otherwise good condition and above legal tread limits. Especially if the offending object hasn’t damaged the tyre when it creates the puncture.

You can check yourself for the puncture, but it’s best to get it fixed by a proper technician, and for the most part, you can find same day mobile tyre fitting services to get you back on the road wherever you are.

Visible Punctures

There’s a difference between slow punctures and noticing debris in your tyre. If you see anything sticking out, be it a bit of metal, glass, nail, or anything, do not drive. Get your tyre replaced immediately. If you have breakdown cover when you spot a puncture, you might be able to use the services to get your tyre changed if you’re not at home or you’ve been driving on it.

Of course, you can change the tyre yourself if you’re able to too. But if you notice any visible damage or something in your tyres that shouldn’t be there, i.e. anything don’t drive, get it sorted, and remember to replace your spare tyre if you put it on, so you have back up if it happens again.

Sidewall Bulges

Sidewall bulges can happen anywhere on the tyre and are extremely dangerous to drive on. The bulge is caused by an increase in air pressure inside the tyre resulting from structural damage. It’s a sign the internal chords have broken, and the tyre is not fit for road use. And this can be down to hitting one too many potholes at speed, a defect in the tyre or climbing kerbs, for example.

Even if you can’t see the bulge in your tyre, you’ll feel it when you’re driving, your car will feel like it’s rolling over small bumps constantly and feel unstable to drive.

Sadly, there’s no fix for this type of damage, and the only solution is to get a completely new tyre. And when you do, make sure to check the wheel itself for any damage to make sure it’s just the tyre. If it’s not, then you need to get wheel repairs carried out before fitting a new tyre.

Uneven Tyre Wear

Your tyres should wear evenly; that goes without saying. But what they should do and what they actually do, don’t always go hand in hand, and different driving conditions can impact how your tyres wear when you’re driving.

If your tracking is out or your wheels aren’t balanced correctly, then you might find that your tyres wear out on one side more than the other, and this reduces grip on the road in both dry and wet conditions, and if you frequently travel at speed, then this is a recipe for disaster. But what if your tyres are wearing in the centre? This is likely due to overinflation and wear on both the outsides, whichis dirign with with underinflated tyres.

Continuing to drive with tyres in this condition puts you at risk of a fine if you’re caught by the police, increases stopping distances and increases the risk of accidents.

The key here is to get your tyres replaced and the alignment issues sorted at the same time, or check the right tyre pressure for your car so you don’t inflate them incorrectly.

Loss of Grip on Wet Roads

If it feels like you’re not as stable when driving in wet weather, or it’s taking you longer to stop when it’s raining, this is almost always a tyre issue. Again, they’re your point of contact with the road, and if they’re not in good condition, you’ll notice this all a lot more when driving in the rain.

And it’s down to low tread. You need to have at least 1.6mm of tread depth across the central portion of the tyre, but wet grip performance is lost well before you get to this limit.

You can check your tyre grip by using a 20p coin. The tread should cover the outer rim edge of the coin. If it doesn’t, it’s too shallow and you need new tyres as a matter of urgency.

Leaving tyre issues in the hope they’re “not that bad” or that they’re not impacting your driving is risky. Poor tyre condition leads to accidents and can land you in legal trouble, as your car needs to be roadworthy at all times.

Always check your tyres regularly for the correct level of inflation for invisible damage to any objects being stuck in the tyre or bulges on any part of the wheel. For the most part, visual checks will suffice, but take the time to physically touch it and have a more thorough check, so you’re not missing anything.