Common Types Of Tyre Damage

By Nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk

Simple 'end of life' wear is not the only reason for changing a tyre

Here are some common examples of causes and consequences that will force you to change

Image used courtesy of dmacktyres.com

Cuts

• Cuts are relatively common and can occur as a result of driving over sharp objects on the road

• In UK law, a tyre with a cut in excess of 25mm must be replaced. Any cut that exposes the ply or cord is also illegal – in both cases, there is an increased risk of blowout

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Sidewall impact

• Hitting a curb or another obstacle can sometimes cause damage to the casing, either in the form of a cut or bulge.

• Again, these are a blowout risk

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Camber wear

• In suspension terms, ‘camber’ refers to the angling of wheels away from the axle

• Some set-ups can improve handling, however, tilting wheels in this way tends to cause rapid wear on the edge of the wheel that makes contact with the road

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Misalignment

• Whereas camber configuration may be desirable, plain old misalignment (where the front wheels are pointed at slightly different angles) rarely results in a better drive, and can cause some rapid wear and feathering on the tread

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Under-inflation

• Under-inflation causes the outer edges to take the load and thus wear more quickly than the centre

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Over-inflation

• When filled with too much air, a tyre becomes too rounded, causing the middle to extrude and take the entire weight of the car

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Emergency braking

• At high speed, an emergency stop can cause massive friction resulting in rapid wear, potentially to the extent that the tyre punctures and deflates. For this reason, you should always check your tyres at the nearest safe opportunity after performing an emergency stop

Image used courtesy of Kwik-Fit

Looking for further information?Check out the full guide here:

www.nationwidevehiclecontracts.co.uk/guides/vehicle-maintenance/tyres

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