The tyres are very important to your car since they ensure your safety while on the road and assure you of great performance from your car. Keeping your car safe and in good condition depends on how knowledgeable you are about the common life expectancy of a set of tyres.

Factors affecting tyre life

Many factors can affect the life of your car tyres Reading. A number of the key points are:

• Tread depth

The tread is that part of your tyre that comes into contact with the road surface. This gradually wears off when you use your tyres. In due course, this will render your car more difficult to handle and less safe.

When new, tyres usually have a tread depth of about 10/32". It's time to get a new one when the tread gets down to 2/32". You need to check the tread depth regularly to let you know when it's time for new tyres.

• Driving habits

Your driving style does matter. Aggressive driving, characterised by rapid acceleration, speeding, and hard braking, wears out tyres quite quickly. Drive smoothly and carefully, and the tyres will last very long.

• Road conditions

The condition of the roads you drive on also affects tyre life. Rough, bumpy roads can wear out tyres quicker than smooth roads. Extreme weather, like very hot or cold temperatures, can also affect how long your tyres last.

• Proper inflation

Tyres that are either underinflated or overinflated will wear unevenly. This gives you higher fuel consumption and a higher probability of a blowout. Therefore, you have to check the pressure of your tyres frequently and follow the manual for the correct one.

• Wheel alignment

If your wheels aren't aligned properly, that can cause your tyres to wear unevenly. When you have periodic checks on the wheel alignment and maintain it, it makes your tyre wear even, which must increase life.

How long should tyres last?

There are so many factors that affect the life of the tyre; hence, it cannot be exactly said how long they will last. Generally, tyres vary between 20,000 and 40,000 miles, but even these are variable again. Most often, it is not the high-performance tyres but the touring and all-season tyres that seem to last quite a while.

The manufacturer will be able to give you an estimate of how long your tyres might last based on the guidelines and warranty. Most of the time, some manufacturers include mileage warranties indicating tyre endurance against mileage on ordinary usage.

How to get maximum life out of your tyres

Apply the following easy tips to ensure that your tyres last longer:

• Check for uneven wear

Check for any uneven wear, bulges, or cuts on your tyres regularly. The sooner you troubleshoot any of these problems, the better your tyres can work and last you for longer periods.

• Tyre rotation

Turn your tyres periodically for even wear. Most car companies recommend that you rotate your tyres every 9,600 to 12,800 kilometres. When you do this, each tyre wears out more evenly and will last longer.

• Balancing

Your tyres should be balanced appropriately to ensure an even ride and wear. In cases where tyres are not properly balanced, uneven wear may result in vibrations, which can be a trigger for early tyre failure.

• Proper maintenance

Keep your car regularly maintained per the suggested schedule. Doing so will make certain the wheel alignments, which help keep your tyres running well and wearing longer.

How to choose tyres with a longer life?

Following are seven points on how one can choose long-lasting tyres:

• Tread-life warranty

Get tyres that are backed by a tread-life warranty. It is the value of your money on the tyre for a certain number of miles. This can then tell you about the life of the tyre.

• Tyre type

Use the type of tyre that best fits your driving needs. Touring and all-season tyres tend to last longer than high-performance or summer-only tyres.

• Tread compound

Know what is used in your tyre's tread. Good-quality materials, like silica-based compounds, can prolong tyre life due to their ability to resist wear and abrasion better.

• Tread pattern

Choose those tyres that feature tread patterns meant for even wear. It has such symmetrical and well-designed patterns that are good for even wearing out tyres, thereby increasing the life span.

• Speed rating

This tells one about the maximum speed that the tyre is designed to attain. A correct speed rating for your driving will certainly contribute to more life in your tyres.

• Proper size

Use the right-sized car tyres Reading. Proper size provides good performance and a long life.

• Load rating

Make sure the tyres are designed to handle the weight of your car. Ensuring that your car is fitted with tyres that accommodate its load-carrying capacity gets the best out of your tyres and serves them for a long time.