Tyre Pressure and Tread Guide
Tyres are the only part of your car that touches the road, yet they are easy to neglect. Correct pressure and healthy tread keep braking distances short, handling predictable and fuel use normal — and both are simple to check.
This guide explains how to check your tyre pressures and tread, what uneven wear is telling you, and when a tyre should be replaced rather than repaired.
Checking your tyre pressures
Tyre pressures should be checked when the tyres are cold, using the pressure figures for your car — you will find them on the driver's door shut, inside the fuel flap, or in the owner's handbook. Check all four tyres, not just the ones that look low.
Under-inflated tyres wear faster at the edges, make the steering feel heavy and increase fuel use. Over-inflated tyres wear faster in the middle and give less grip. A tyre that keeps losing pressure may have a slow puncture or a faulty valve and deserves a proper look.
Checking your tread
Tread channels water away from the tyre's contact patch, which is what keeps grip in the wet. Check across the full width of each tyre: the tread should be even, with no bald patches, and comfortably above the legal minimum.
Tread wear indicators — small raised bars moulded into the grooves — show when a tyre is approaching the end of its legal life. If the tread surface is level with those bars, or below the legal limit anywhere on the tyre, it needs replacing. When in doubt, ask us to check.
For independent tyre safety guidance, see TyreSafe.
What uneven wear means
Tyres wear evenly when pressure, balancing and alignment are correct. Wear on both edges points to under-inflation; wear in the centre points to over-inflation; wear on one edge or in patches can mean the wheel alignment or balancing is out.
Uneven wear can also come from the suspension — worn bushes or tired shock absorbers let the wheel move in ways that scrub the tread. That is why we look at the wider picture when your tyres are wearing strangely, not just the tyres themselves.
When a tyre should be replaced, not repaired
A straightforward puncture in the tread area can often be repaired, but damage to the sidewall — bulges, cracks or cuts — means the tyre must be replaced. A bulge shows the internal structure is damaged, and a sidewall cannot be patched safely.
If you are unsure whether a tyre is safe, call 07961 404768 or message us on WhatsApp. We are open 24 hours, and we will check the tyre and give you a straight answer.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my tyre pressure?
Check pressures when the tyres are cold, using the figures for your car from the driver's door shut, the fuel flap or the owner's handbook. Check all four tyres with a reliable gauge, and don't forget the spare if you carry one. Re-check monthly, because tyres lose pressure gradually even without a puncture.
How do I know if my tread is legal?
Look at the tread wear indicators — small raised bars moulded into the tyre's grooves. If the tread surface is level with those bars, the tyre is at the end of its legal life. The tread must also stay above the legal minimum across the tyre's full width. If you are unsure, we will check it for you.
What does uneven tyre wear mean?
Wear on both edges usually means under-inflation, while wear in the centre points to over-inflation. Wear on one edge or in patches can mean the wheel alignment or balancing is out. Because worn suspension parts can also scrub the tread, uneven wear is worth having inspected rather than just replacing the tyre.
Can a damaged tyre be repaired, or does it need replacing?
A simple puncture in the tread area can often be repaired, but any damage to the sidewall — bulges, cracks or cuts — means the tyre must be replaced, because the sidewall cannot be patched safely. A bulge shows the tyre's internal structure is damaged. If you are unsure, have the tyre checked before driving on it.
What affects the cost of new tyres?
The main factors are the tyre size your car needs, the type of tyre — standard, performance or all-season, for example — and how many need replacing. Wheel balancing is normally included with fitting, while an alignment check is quoted separately if uneven wear suggests it is needed. We quote before any work is agreed.