5 Signs Your Car Tyres Are Bad & Put You At Risk

5 dangerous signs your car tyres are bad, risky and should be replaced as soon as possible. Put safety first and make sure you eliminate problems early

Anthony Umezinwa

6/6/20254 min read

Black suv on premium car tyres
Black suv on premium car tyres

It is normally so easy as a car owner to do the necessary checks and maintenance when it comes to taking care of your sweet ride but regardless overlook the most important part of your car which is the 4 legs of the car. Lets face it, nobody really looks our for their tires these days and its normally very difficult to detect any issues with them until its too late. These 5 signs if you notice them should be quickly evaluated and dealt with as soon as possible to prevent any risk of unwanted circumstances. Looking to replace them and do not know the size? Check out the tyre guide so you know what to look for when checking the size for replacement

Poor Braking in Wet Conditions

a car driving down a rain soaked street
a car driving down a rain soaked street

You are driving and its raining , completely normal situation obviously, Right? Well yeah of course but then you want to come to stop and you slam on the brakes and your ride slowly grinds to a halt but it seems to be taking forever to do so, more time than you calculated and a little bit of panic creeps in as your car is hydroplaning. It eventually stops and you are relieved. By chance it happens again and again in the rain and you simply blame it on the rain but that is not the case. The tread life of your tyres are worn out and its now easier for water to get between the friction of your car tyres and the road, no friction equals poor braking. While there are other factors that cause this like the weight of the car, the speed of the car and other things, If you know these factors are in check and you still experience this, its time to change your car tyres

Frequent Tyre Pressure Loss

car parked out side with car tyres having low pressure
car parked out side with car tyres having low pressure

Its the end of the week and you notice a problem with your car tyre, a normal problem that can be easily solved, you bring out your phone to call the vulcanizer then you realize you have called him in the past week more than you have called your mum and you start to question life and even whether the vulcanizer is credible at all. You keep having low tyre pressure and flat tires all the time even with no visible puncture and you figure maybe it is his fault, but that might not be the case at all. If you notice your tire pressure sensors going off all the time or you keep having flat tires then it is time indeed to change your car tyres as there may be cracks on the sidewall that you can not see or did not notice, cracks where air secretly seeps out. If this is happening to you, then you are at risk and should change your car tyres as soon as possible

Excessive Vibration While Driving

While driving slowly you may not notice anything because there is no real stress or strain on your car tyres, but if you notice that your car feels like a Mack Truck while on high speed for no particular reason, there could be a number of causes for these like tyre imbalance, wheel issues and the rest but if you know that you have done tyre alignment and balancing and it still vibrates a lot while you are on high speed in a smooth road network then it is highly suggested that you change your tyres

person driving vehicle with low grip due to bad condition of car tyre
person driving vehicle with low grip due to bad condition of car tyre

Car Tyre older than 4 years

gray multi spoke wheel with old tyre
gray multi spoke wheel with old tyre

This will require you to do a manual check yourself as there may not be a sign that the tyres are old till the day it completely gives up and leave you in problems you would not like. Car tyres are meant to last from 3- 5 years depending usage and mileage but this may not necessarily mean that the the years starts counting from when it was mounted. No rather it starts counting from the day it was manufactured there. So you will have to check for yourself the date it was manufactured and the date you are currently in, if the tyre was manufactured more than 5 years ago, that is a red flag for you, 6 years is a stretch and anything above 7 years should be changed immediately. To check your tyre manufacturing date, check the Tyre guide for information on that

Uneven Wear, Cracks & Cuts

black vehicle wheel with uneven wear and cracks
black vehicle wheel with uneven wear and cracks

If poor alignment was done on your car, this could result in uneven wear of the car tyres , if you notice this, replace the tyre and then go for proper alignment and balancing. THIS IS NOT UP FOR DEBATE as it is risky for everyone involved. If you notice cracks, cuts or bulges in the side wall of your tyres then you should replace immediately to prevent future accidents.

Bonus: If You’re Asking, It Might Be Time

If you're unsure about your tyres, have them checked. Your tyres are your vehicle's only contact with the road — don’t take chances.

Final Thoughts

If you notice any one of these issues, or all f them at one, then it is a clear sign that you need to change your car tyres as soon as possible

Shop at Tyrepublic and get the best recommendation with the best options for your car when it comes to tyres