Check your tyres - Life Hack
Tyre’s are important. Most people just see them as 4 black rubber ‘thingies’ which cost money, but in reality they’re the only things keeping your car in contact with the road, without them your car wouldn’t go or stop!
We’re sure you all know about minimum tyre treads – 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre but did you know there’s a very easy way to check it?
The quick and easy way to see if your tyre tread exceed the minimum legal tread depth is to take the 20p test. Simply place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit.
The 1.6mm isn’t the only rule for your tyres, they should be the same size on each axle (not including your spare wheel) and should be free from bumps and lumps. Cuts in the sidewall in excess of 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre which are deep enough to reach the ply or cord can also make a tyre illegal. The outer edges (where the 1.6mm rule doesn’t count) should also not show any ply or cord.
If you are unsure about the health of your tyres or want a professional opinion then most garages will check your car tyres for free - your yearly MOT will also check the health of your tyres and give you an advisory if they are getting close to being worn out. If you use your car frequently then it is worth checking your tyres more often as generally brand new tyres can last as little a 8000 miles depending on the car.
Remember – You should check your tyre’s at-least once per month and before every long journey.