Five signs your tyres need replacement

Your car’s tyres aren’t just rubber donuts that are stuck onto your wheel. They make your everyday travels smooth and enjoyable and are your first line of defence in avoiding an accident. 

Tyres profoundly affect how a car goes, turns and stops – such that you can make a car feel almost ‘brand new’ by simply changing your tyres. And it goes without saying, you must choose tyres from a notable manufacturer that perfectly suits your vehicle and driving conditions.

On the roads, tyres are subjected to rough surfaces, heat and humidity and not to mention, thousands of potholes and road irregularities as you drive, and so, eventually wear out. Thus, can you tell if your tyres need replacement? Well yes, and it’s easy if you know what to look for, let’s take a closer look.

1. Tyre age

One of the simplest ways to tell if a tyre needs to be replaced is its age. Look for the ‘tyre production date marker’ on the side of the tyre and pay close attention to the last two numbers. These indicate the year the tyre was produced. In the above example, the marker reads "3112", meaning the tyre was produced in the 31st week of 2012. 

Rubber degrades over time and thus tyres need to be replaced even if they may still have thread left on them. Continental, for instance, endorses that its tyres have a service life of 5 years and maximum storage life of 10 years. Hence if your tyres have been on the road for more than five years - it’s time to replace them.

2. Tyre wear

Well we all know this one, after years of usage the tyre thread will wear down and need replacement. The easiest way to tell if it’s time to replace your tyres is to look at its Thread Wear Indicator (TWI).

Also read: Why do automakers prefer Continental tyres?

TWI markers are placed within the longitudinal grooves of the tyre and indicate the lowest point the thread may reach before the tyre needs to be replaced. Once the TWI and surrounding thread blocks are at the same depth, the tyre should be replaced.  

3. Uneven tyre wear

Tyres can also get damaged if they are not maintained properly or sustained damage from impact or an accident. Underinflating, overinflating, skipping alignment and rotation services and improper vehicle modification are the most common causes of irregular tyre wear.

Irregular tyre wear typically presents baldness or additional wear on the sides of the tyre or sidewalls. This can compromise the tyre’s overall strength, and severely reduce performance especially when driving in low grip/wet roads. If you notice irregular wear on your tyre, it is best to have it first inspected by a tyre specialist and replaced if required.

4. Increased rumbling noise

Increased tyre noise is one of the most glaring warning signs of tyre issues. Additional tyre noise is typically generated from the additional surface area that contacts the road, this happens once your tyre tread has worn down.

You can distinguish tyre noise from other noises if it increases and decreases in volume based on speed. So if your tyres are noisier than they used to be, first check their depth or get them inspected by a specialist and replaced.

Also read: Review: Continental UltraContact UC7 - The comfort touring tyre with a performance edge

5. Increased vibration when driving

Vibrations are one of the most common symptoms of bad tyres and like tyre noise, can increase or decrease with speed. Rolling vibration (or bumping) can be caused by unbalanced wheels or your vehicle’s brakes – but if it's tyre-related, it could be bubbles or blisters.

Bubbles or blisters happen when the tyre has suffered internal damage. This commonly happens after striking curbs and large/sharp objects on the road. A tyre with a bubble or blister requires prompt replacement as it can suffer a sudden loss of air pressure without warning.

Never skimp on tyres, always buy with confidence

Good tyres make the difference in avoiding a collision and not, and this especially comes down to having the shortest braking distance during an emergency. Thus, leading tyre companies spend millions on R&D to ensure performance and predictability is there when you need it the most. 

Also Read: Continental rolls out its latest comfort offering, the ComfortContact CC7

In providing utmost value and customer confidence, Continental Tyre Malaysia now offers the Continental Total Confidence Plan (TCP) warranty which provides customers with enhanced protection against road hazard damage. 

The TCP covers all Continental passenger, SUV, MPV and 4x4 new replacement market tyres (14-inch and above) in the following events:

• Road Hazard Warranty: Warranty against road hazard damages such as impact and/or cut damage (tread, shoulder, and/or sidewall), penetration by sharp thin objects, and/or damage through deep cuts (moisture-oxidation).

All you have to do is purchase a minimum of two (2) new tyres at participating Continental brand tyre retailers to be eligible for TCP coverage. Upon purchase, scan a barcode at the lower sidewall of the tyre and complete a simple online registration form available on the Continental TCP app. 

Upon registration, customers will receive a notification which means their Continental tyres are now covered under the TCP warranty. That's it! 

The TCP warranty provides coverage for the first 12 months from the date of purchase or the remaining tread depth of no less than 5mm (whichever comes first, T&Cs apply)

No better time to buy Continental tyres 

In conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya festivities, Continental Tyre Malaysia is offering e-wallet rewards in addition to the TCP warranty for those looking to purchase brand-new tyres.

From now till 30 June 2023, purchase a minimum of 2 Continental branded tyres at any participating dealer nationwide or on Continental’s official Shopee store to redeem a Touch 'n Go e-wallet voucher via the app.

This promotion applies to all tyres sized 14-inch and above for passenger cars, SUVs, MPVs and 4x4 tyres.

For more information on the Continental's TCP Warranty or Hari Raya offers, click on the following links:

• Hari Raya campaign
• TCP