Since the invention of the first wheel in a faraway ancient cave from our prehistoric past, tyres have been the lifeblood of every vehicle. It’s what makes your car go from point A to B, faster than your own two legs can take you. During the horse carriage days, it used to be easy to tell if the wide-spoke, circular tyres were warped or needed to be put out of commission just by visually inspecting it. But we’ve come a long way since then. Technology has evolved, bringing us from clunky horse carriages to early Ford mobiles, to the modern, sleek cars we know today. As automobiles become increasingly complex yet more and more user-friendly for any layman to drive on a whim, it becomes natural to take wheels for granted and tough to know when—or if!—they need replacing for good.
If you’ve never given your car tyres a second look, look again. Tyres are one of the most critical components to have on your car. They help you drive safely, but they also need replacing when their life cycle is over. When you’re going at highway speeds, the one thing you want to avoid is a dangerous blow-out or a puncture hazard that could lead to high-risk accidents.
It’s different from understanding how car wheel alignments work on Singapore’s roads or choosing your car tyres at the shop. Knowing when to change your wheels could make the difference between a safe drive or an emergency trip to the hospital. That being said, here are 3 easy steps to follow on how to detect and truly know if your car tyres need replacing.
1. Detecting Tyre Faults By Sight
Wear and tear are one of the most common tyre replacement reasons, and these are easy to spot if you know what to look out for.
The best way to determine the health of your tyres is by checking the tread wear on them. Going by the general rule of thumb, the remaining tread depth on your tyre should not be below 1.6 mm. But how do you measure this? Professional mechanics usually have a specialized tyre tread depth gauge, but most of us don’t have one just lying around. What you can use instead is a 50-cent coin. Flip for tails and place it upright with the word “Singapore” first into the tyre’s groove. If you’re able to see any part of the word “Singapore”, it means your car tyres are sufficiently worn, and it’s time for a replacement.
2. Listen Up For Unusual Sounds
When you notice that your car is making an unusual noise when driving, it’s likely time for new tyres. If there are squealing sounds from your tyres – this means your wheels are worn out, or your car tyre has a slow puncture that needs an urgent fix. If you hear flapping noises, it means your tyre has suffered some damage on impact with a curb or pothole or from overinflation. If you hear unusual sounds from your wheels while driving along Singapore roads, it signals a need for repair or an entire replacement of your tyres.
3. Feeling The Drive
Car tyres in Singapore are constantly exposed to the hot tarmac and high temperatures in the sunny tropical heat. Tyres usually last from 5 years to a maximum of 10 years, and the tyre’s longevity is also affected by the weather climate. Issues like these can be harder to detect just by looking, but you can feel it when you drive. The moment you notice a change or slippage in your steering, it’s time for new tyres.
Take Control Of The Wheel
By knowing all the signs for a car tyre replacement, you’ll be even safer on the roads whenever you drive in Singapore. Get in touch with our specialists for all new arrivals on wheels and enjoy 24 hours car tyre replacement onsite today!
