CHECKLIST: THE MAIN SIGNS OF TiRE TREAD WEAR
A tread that’s below the legal minimum tire tread depth (1.6mm for cars)
Visible tears, cracks or cuts in the sidewall of the tire
Stains or discolouration on the tire
Unusual bulges, or deformed parts of the sidewall
Exposed or damaged bead wire
Separated tread, or split tire elements
What is a tire wear indicator?
Tire wear indicators are marks spaced evenly along the tire tread, so you’re able to identify how much of the tire tread depth has worn down.
On MICHELIN tires, you can easily identify the wear indicator position with the Michelin Man symbol on the sidewall. It means they are arranged in line across the width of the tire.
This way, you can quickly identify if the tread is too worn down when checking your tires.
How to read a tire wear indicator?
When the tread of your tire is worn down to the same level as the wear indicator, it means the tire has reached the minimum tread depth level. Your tire needs to be changed.
On Michelin’s latest tires, you may also find other types of innovative tread wear indicators. With wear to check technology (see image):
If 1,2, and 3 are visible: your tires are in great shape.
If 3 is visible only, wear is between 50% and 75%.
If none are visible, it’s your cue to change your tires!
From the first to the last kilometers, MICHELIN tires deliver top performance until the tread level reaches the wear indicators.
How can I check my tire tread depth using a tire wear indicator?
Give yourself easy access to your tires by parking on a flat surface in a wide, open space with limited traffic, such as at home or in a car park. Switch off the engine, and make sure the handbrake is on.
Locate the tire tread wear indicators to know if you have reached the legal limit tread depth. If necessary, use a tread depth gauge to accurately check the current tread depth. This is a simple tool designed to measure car tire treads. Check in multiple places, all across the tire, in case of uneven wear.
While you’re at it, you might also want to take the opportunity to look all over the tires for the signs of wear listed in the checklist above – tire wear can come in many different forms, including along the middle and in isolated spots.
You should also have your tires checked regularly by a professional, who can look inside for signs of damage and wear as well as checking the outside.
When should I change my tires?
Although it may seem like a good idea to change your tires when they begin to wear down and before reaching the legal limit tread depth, this is costly, unnecessary and can have a negative impact on the environment. On that matter, Michelin’s keeps innovating to offer tires that can be safely used for as long as possible, until the legal tread wear limit. Thanks to Michelin’s Performance Made to Last, excellent longevity meets high level of performance, from the first to the last kilometers.
However, once your tires reach a tread depth of 1.6mm, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible to ensure maximum safety on the roads, as well as remaining law compliant. If you have any concerns about your tires, or are worried that they are wearing down too quickly, make sure to have them checked over by a professional as soon as possible.
What are the risks of driving with shallow tire tread depth?
Although it's normal for tire tread to wear down and become shallower over time, checking the depth regularly means you can stay ahead of any potential problems, particularly if you discover your tires are wearing down irregularly or too rapidly.
If you have too little tread on your tires, this can make it harder for your tires to grip the road, and could potentially put you and other motorists at risk. This is particularly problematic in wet weather, when you need to keep as much grip on the road as possible to keep control of the vehicle and minimize the risks of aquaplaning.
As well as making driving more difficult as the car is less able to grip the road, driving with bald tires, that is with a tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6mm is illegal, and could incur a fine.
Are there any common causes of early tire tread wear?
It’s important to remember that there are also different types of tire tread wear, depending on the cause. Here is an exhaustive overview of common causes and different types of early tire tread wear :
Underinflated tires : creates uneven tread wear on both outside edges of the tire
Overinflated tire : causes early tread wear on the centre of the tire
Improper camber setting : make the tire wear on either the inside or outside shoulder of the tread
When this occurs, drive to a garage nearby to seek professional advice.
What can I do to prevent tire tread wear and prolong the life of my tires?
As a driver, you actually have quite a lot of control over how quickly your tires wear down. That’s why it’s important to keep some essential factors in mind when driving to help prolong the life of your tires for as long as possible.
One of the key elements is ensuring the correct pressure for the load of the car and not going over the maximum load capacity advised by your manufacturer, as this can put unnecessary excessive pressure on your tires. This information will be available on the valve of your gas tank, on the label in the driver’s door, in your car manual or car manufacturer's guide.
When driving, you should avoid sudden braking or accelerating too quickly, as well as avoiding driving quickly over obstacles that might impact your tires such as potholes, speed bumps and curbs. Finally, you should regularly check the condition of your car, making sure the tires are correctly inflated and that the wheels are aligned too.