Your tyres are the only components connecting your vehicle to the road surface. Four patches of rubber, each roughly the size of your hand, bear the entire responsibility of accelerating, braking, and steering your vehicle safely. Yet tyre-related incidents remain a leading cause of breakdowns and accidents on Australian roads. This guide covers the essential safety practices every driver should know to keep themselves and their passengers protected.
The Monthly Tyre Check Routine
Developing a consistent tyre inspection routine takes only minutes but can prevent dangerous situations. Aim to check your tyres at least monthly, or before any long journey. Here's what to look for:
Visual Inspection
Start by walking around your vehicle and examining each tyre carefully. Look for cuts, cracks, or bulges in the sidewall—these can indicate internal damage that may lead to a blowout. Check for objects embedded in the tread, such as nails, screws, or stones. While a small nail might not cause immediate deflation, it can lead to slow leaks and eventual failure.
Examine the tread surface for unusual wear patterns. Wear concentrated on the edges suggests under-inflation, while wear in the centre indicates over-inflation. Uneven wear across the tyre might signal alignment or suspension issues that need professional attention.
Never ignore a bulge in your tyre sidewall. This indicates internal structural damage where the rubber is separating from the internal plies. A sidewall bulge can fail catastrophically at any moment, particularly at highway speeds. Replace the tyre immediately—it cannot be repaired.
Pressure Check
Tyre pressure is your single most important safety factor. Under-inflated tyres flex excessively, generating heat that degrades the rubber and can cause blowouts. They also compromise handling, increase stopping distances, and waste fuel. Over-inflated tyres reduce the contact patch, decreasing grip and causing uneven wear.
Check pressure when tyres are cold—ideally in the morning before driving or after the vehicle has been stationary for at least three hours. The correct pressure for your vehicle is specified on the placard inside the driver's door jamb, not on the tyre sidewall (that number indicates maximum pressure, not recommended pressure).
Understanding Tread Depth Requirements
In Australia, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.5mm across the entire contact width of the tyre. However, safety experts recommend replacing tyres at 3mm, particularly for vehicles that encounter wet conditions regularly. At 1.6mm, a tyre's wet weather performance is already significantly compromised compared to new rubber.
Modern tyres include tread wear indicators—small raised bars within the main grooves. When the tread wears down to these bars, the tyre has reached the legal minimum and must be replaced. You can also use a simple depth gauge, available from automotive shops for a few dollars, to measure precisely.
- Look for tread wear indicator bars level with the tread surface
- Use a depth gauge to measure remaining tread
- Replace at 3mm for optimal wet weather safety
- Legal minimum in Australia is 1.5mm
Tyre Age: The Hidden Danger
Tyres deteriorate with age, regardless of how much tread remains. Rubber compounds oxidise over time, becoming harder and losing flexibility. This degradation accelerates in Australia's intense UV environment and heat. Even tyres stored indoors as spares undergo this process.
Most manufacturers recommend replacing tyres after six years of service, and many won't warrant tyres beyond this age. Tyres older than ten years should never be used, even if they appear to be in good condition visually.
You can determine your tyre's age from the DOT code on the sidewall. Look for a four-digit number following "DOT"—the first two digits indicate the week of manufacture, and the last two indicate the year. For example, "2519" means the tyre was manufactured in the 25th week of 2019.
Spare Tyre Considerations
Your spare tyre deserves the same attention as your road tyres. Check its pressure monthly—spare tyres lose pressure over time, and there's nothing worse than discovering a flat spare when you need it. Many modern vehicles come with space-saver spares that have specific speed and distance limitations, typically 80 km/h maximum speed and 80 kilometres maximum distance.
If your spare is a full-size tyre, ensure it matches your other tyres in terms of size and, ideally, model. Mixing different tyre types can affect handling, particularly on all-wheel-drive vehicles where mismatched tyres can damage the drivetrain.
Space-saver spares typically require higher pressure than regular tyres—often around 420 kPa (60 PSI). Check your owner's manual for the specific requirement and verify this pressure regularly.
Long Distance Travel Preparation
Before embarking on a road trip, especially across remote areas, conduct a thorough tyre inspection. This is particularly important in Australia, where distances between service centres can be vast and conditions challenging.
Complete these checks before any significant journey:
- Inspect all four tyres and the spare for damage, wear, and proper inflation
- Adjust pressure for loaded conditions if carrying extra passengers or luggage (check your vehicle's placard for loaded pressure specifications)
- Ensure you have a functional jack, wheel brace, and any other equipment needed for a tyre change
- Know how to change a tyre—practice in your driveway before you need to do it roadside in challenging conditions
- Consider carrying a tyre repair kit and 12-volt compressor for remote travel
Responding to Tyre Emergencies
If you experience a blowout while driving, resist the urge to brake hard or turn sharply. Instead, grip the steering wheel firmly, ease off the accelerator gradually, and let the vehicle slow naturally. Once your speed has reduced significantly, gently steer toward a safe stopping location. Only apply brakes lightly once you're moving slowly and under control.
For a slow puncture, you may notice the vehicle pulling to one side or a change in handling feel. If safe to do so, stop and inspect your tyres. If you must continue driving temporarily, reduce your speed and avoid sharp manoeuvres.
Temperature Effects on Tyres
Australian temperatures significantly impact tyre behaviour. In summer, hot road surfaces accelerate wear and increase the risk of overheating, particularly on long highway stretches. Tyre pressures also rise with temperature—a tyre inflated correctly in the cool morning may be significantly over-inflated by afternoon.
In winter, tyre pressures drop as temperatures fall. A tyre that was correctly inflated on a warm day may be under-inflated when temperatures drop overnight. This is why checking pressure when tyres are cold provides the most accurate reading.
Creating a Safety-First Mindset
Tyre safety isn't about paranoid checking—it's about developing awareness and good habits. A quick walk around your vehicle before you drive takes seconds and can identify potential issues before they become dangerous. Incorporate pressure checks into your routine, whether that's every fuel fill-up or a set day each week.
Remember that tyres are consumables that require regular replacement. Budget for them as part of your vehicle's running costs, and never compromise on quality when safety is at stake. Your tyres are your vehicle's foundation—keeping them in optimal condition is fundamental to safe driving.