Average Life of Car Tytres

Due to India's diverse road conditions and climate, the life of car tyres varies from one user to another. You can avoid or resolve tyre wear problems to increase your car tyre life in km.

Car tyres' life is affected by the following factors.

Proper Tyre Match and Installation

It would help if you fit the same types of tyres in your car. Different brands of tyres have different patterns, sizes, and loading capacities. When other tyre technologies and construction techniques are mixed, the performance and balance of all four tyres are negatively affected, reducing their lifespan. A tyre not appropriately installed will also have the same negative impact.

Loading Capacity

The loading capacity of each tyre varies. According to the ground rule, higher loading capacities result in shorter tyre lives. As a result of overload, the life span is further shortened. On the side walls of most tyres, the load index is specified. It would help if you stayed within the selected load index for the corresponding maximum load.

Wheel Alignment

If the wheel alignment of your car is not proper, you will feel your car pulling to the left or right, even when driving in a straight line. A mechanic can quickly rectify this and eliminate the risk. Misaligned wheels can create more friction and reduce the tyre’s health.

Tyre Pressure

Both under and over-pressure diminish a tyre's life. An under-inflated tyre will experience radial and excessive deformation on both sidewalls at an accelerated pace if the inflation is too low. As a result, tread and shoulders wear faster, and the tyre's temperature rises abnormally.

Many vehicle owners overly inflate their tyres to carry heavier loads. When the tyre pressure is high, the tyre becomes rigid and deforms, reducing the contact area. As a result, the central unit pressure increases, accelerating tread wear and significantly reducing tyre comfortability and life. An increase of 25% in pressure results in a 30% reduction in tyre life.

Car Speed

Each tyre has its speed level index, just like the load index. It is essential to avoid exceeding these speed limits as it adversely affects the tyre's life.

Tyre Temperature

When it comes to rubber tyres, heat is the biggest enemy. Tyres moving at high speeds expose themselves to optimum stretch, compression, and friction as they move on the road. The result is the rise in tyre temperature, which quickly exacerbates and can even puncture the rubber material, causing the tyre to wear out sooner.

Road Conditions

Tyre health would naturally be affected by the road surface conditions. Various factors influence the tyre's life, such as the smoothness of the road, the presence of potholes and bumpers, its camber, curves, the road's gradient, windings, hilly terrain, etc. Several factors can be beyond your control here.

Seasonal Factors

A car's location and other climatic factors such as its temperature, heat level, pollution, date of fitting, and geographic region can affect the car tyre lifespan. Tyre efficiency and lifespan are affected by all of these factors.

Chassis Status

There is a direct connection between each component of a car and its other components. The parallel front and rear axles, the condition of the brake, the wheel balancing, and all the other mechanical working conditions of the chassis directly impact the tyre's life. Getting these minor repairs done in time will extend the tyre's life, and you can also avoid major repairs.

Driving Habits

Every driver drives differently. Cars and their parts are directly affected by how you treat them. Driving at high speeds, braking in an emergency, sharp steering, driving on poor roads, and slamming into curbs and parking barriers are just a few driving habits that can wear away your tires quickly.

Vehicle and Tyre Maintenance

You should service your vehicle frequently. Regular maintenance prevents all normal wear and tear and minor issues from becoming major.

Different types of tyre damage can result from irregular driving conditions. The following are the types and causes of tyre damage.

Heel-and-toe Tyre Wear

This is an expected wear on the surface of the rubber blocks on tyres. Because of the road's surface, the rolling tyres deform the shoulder blocks. Continual rolling wears down the edges of freestanding block shapes, causing them to lose their edge under pressure.

It would help to not worry about minor heel-and-toe wear on your tyres. Driving performance can be affected by extensive damage, however. The most common cause of this wear is long highway journeys.

Centre Tyre Wear

If you drive a high-power car, you will see this wear pattern often. As these cars accelerate rapidly, their tyres' centres wear out. The start-stop traffic in urban areas also increases tyre wear. Today's mid-range cars have powerful engines, making this type of tyre damage quite common.

One-sided Tyre Wear

One-sided wear in tyres can be caused by incorrect axle arrangement. A tyre's inside or outside wall can suffer damage depending on whether the axle is toe-in or toe-out. A smaller tyre size can also cause one-sided wear and disrupt wheel alignment. Until the damage reaches its extremes, drivers are usually unaware of this problem.

Sidewall Indentation

Sidewalls are the visible parts of a tyre from the side. Tyre sidewalls sometimes have dimples or indentations. Sidewall dimples may occur as a result of pressure between the rubber of the tyre and the internal cords of the carcass. It is essential to check them to determine their cause, even if they are mostly superficial and harmless.

Tyre Bulge or Impact Break

Bulges are damage to the tyre's casing. An impact with an obstacle can cause the internal cord of a tyre to break or deform. As a result of the damaged cords within the casing, the sidewall bulges out. This damage can occur when driving over speed bumps or kerbs incorrectly.

Tyre Cuts

Bad roads or stone chips, glass pieces, or anything else that is sharp lying on the road can cause cuts in your tyre, including. Any cut on the tyre should be checked by a professional to prevent further damage.

Tyre Punctures

When a sharp object penetrates the tyre surface, it causes a puncture. A deep puncture can cause the tyre to lose air pressure. Long nails or screws can get inside a tyre and cause this loss of air pressure. You should check and repair the puncture immediately to prevent a tyre burst.

Car tyres should be replaced when you notice any of these five signs.

Damaged Sidewall

The sidewalls of tyres support vehicles. Any bubble, dent, crack, or other damage can be serious. Damaged sidewalls can lead to a tyre burst if not replaced. During a long trip or hot weather, you should pay close attention to the sidewalls of your tyres. If a tyre is damaged, replace it as soon as possible.

Excessive Tread Wear

A tyre's tread is a groove or cut on the tyre's surface that allows the tyre to interact better with the road. These grooves also prevent a water layer from forming between the road and the tyre surface during rain or snow. The tread depth gradually decreases with time, which reduces traction.

Accidents are more likely to occur when excessive tread wear is not replaced. Generally, a tyre should be changed if the tread depth reaches 0.5 cm or less. You can also check the manufacturer's manual to determine when to change your tyres.

Uneven Wear Patterns

Many factors can lead to uneven tyre wear, including incorrect alignment, loose wheels, and high-speed cornering. When driving at high speeds, uneven wear can deteriorate the drive quality and cause instability.

Therefore, checking your tyres regularly for uneven wear patterns is essential. A tyre must be replaced if its tread depth seems uneven between its sides and centre. Make sure you have your wheels aligned and balancing checked while having the tyres changed to prevent uneven wear.

Extensive Usage

Your vehicle's tyres may suffer serious damage after a long drive in extreme terrains. There may be structural damage to the tyre even if you cannot see it on the outside. For safe future journeys, you should have your tyres checked professionally after an adventurous trip and replaced if necessary.

End of Tyre’s Lifespan

The average life of car tyres in India is five years, and the tubeless tyre life in km is 50000 km. Ageing causes the tyres to wear out from the inside and outside. After five years, it is safer to replace the tyre even if there is no tread loss or visible damage.

Check the tyre condition regularly by following the steps below.

A tyre's tread depth should be equal on both sides and in the middle.

For proper traction, ensure the tread depth is at least 0.5 cm.

Check the tyre pressure and notice if the tyre is losing pressure often.

If the tyres show signs of damage, such as bumps, bulges, scrapes, cuts, frequent punctures, cracks, etc., replace them.

You can find the manufacturing date on the tyre's sidewall by looking for the DOT symbol. You can find the manufacturing week and year from the last four digits.

To repair or replace the tyres, consult a professional.

You can delay the tyre replacement time by following a tyre safety checklist. To extend your car tyres' lifespan, follow these safety tips.

• Make sure you avoid sudden braking and hard acceleration.

• Ensure that your tyres are not overinflated or underinflated.

• Ensure the suspension components are in good condition by regularly aligning the wheels.

• You should rotate your tyres according to your vehicle's type.

Ultimately, changing your tyres is a beautiful skill and an indispensable part of vehicle maintenance that can save you time and money. Ensure you monitor your tyres for signs of wear and replace them when necessary — don't wait until it's too late. You and your car depend on it for safety.

Also, you should purchase a four-wheeler insurance policy because no one can guarantee safety while driving. Tata AIG's comprehensive car insurance can protect you financially during unexpected accidents.

In a tubeless tyre, how do I look for punctures?

Check the tyre for any sharp objects that may have penetrated it. Pour water or soap solution on the tire surface and observe if any bubbles form due to the air pressure from the punctured area.

Is it necessary to replace tyres in pairs only?

Experts recommend replacing tyres in pairs on the same axle, regardless of tread depth. It will help in avoiding imbalances.

When should I check my tyres for wear?

If you drive your car on a daily basis, check your tyres for wear every month or before going on a long trip.

Can I use older tyres beyond their suggested age?

If the tyre treads are still intact to a large extent, you can still use the tyre for some time.

If not used, how long do tyres last?

Tyres that are stored in optimal conditions will last between 6 and 10 years.