One of YouTube’s most popular motoring experts has advised drivers on exactly when they should change their cars tyres and how to get the most use out of them.
With the cost of car insurance and road tax on the rise, motorists could be tempted to run a set of tyres on their vehicle a little longer than usual this year.
However, in a recent video, the mechanic Scotty Kilmer warned that this is not always a good idea, with the lifespan of tyres depending on a number of factors.
He explained: “Today I’m going to tell you how long tyres really last on your vehicle. Well, it really depends on three main things: the quality of the tyre, the age of the tyre and how many miles it has on it.
“Take this Michelins on my wife’s Lexus, they can last 60,000 to 70,000 miles, quality tyres. But that’s with normal high driving. If you don’t drive much, after five or six years or more, they’ll often start to dry rot and crack. And when they crack you’ve got to replace them, they’re no longer good.”
In the video, Scotty noted that there is no set length of time or mileage that tyres last until, with most either running out of tread or cracking due to a lack of use.
As a result, he urged drivers to regularly check their vehicles tyres, including the spare wheel, which may not be able to hold pressure for long at all if it has never been used since the car was bought.
The mechanic also highlighted that, whilst more expensive, tyres from quality brands use better quality rubber and therefore can last longer than budget alternatives.
Scotty also reminded drivers that they should regularly check that the tyres have the right amount of pressure levels in them, with the recommended levels being printed in the driver’s door well.
He added: “So if you keep the correct tyre pressure in your car’s tyres, you might get 60,000 to 70,000 miles out of them.
“Just a little maintenance goes a very long way.”
According to the Highway Code, drivers must regularly make sure the tyre treads on their car are not under 1.6mm.
The quickest way of checking the vehicle is roadworthy is by sticking a 20p piece in the gap and seeing if it is deeper than the rim of the coin.
If a driver is caught using a car with worn out tyres, they could face a £2,500 fine and three penalty points for each affected one.
