Tyre Maintenance Checklist and Pressure Guide: Tread Depth, Inflation and Replacement Signs

Overview

Tyres are the car’s contact with the road, so maintenance should cover more than tread depth alone. A useful check combines four areas: inflation pressure, tread condition, sidewall condition and wear pattern. It should also account for the vehicle’s load, driving conditions, tyre type and service history.

Before checking anything, park on a level surface and allow the tyres to cool where possible. Driving warms the air inside a tyre and can produce a higher pressure reading. Use a reliable pressure gauge, and keep a torch available for inspecting the inner shoulders and sidewalls. If you cannot see the full tread or notice a serious defect, ask a qualified tyre professional to inspect it.

Do not use the maximum pressure moulded into the tyre sidewall as the normal vehicle setting. That figure relates to the tyre’s permitted operating limit, not necessarily the pressure recommended for your car. The correct cold pressure is usually listed on the vehicle information label, often inside a door frame, fuel flap or glovebox, and in the owner’s handbook. Check whether the label gives separate pressures for light and fully loaded use.

If you need to confirm the markings on a replacement tyre, see our tyre size, load rating and speed rating guide. Correct fitment matters just as much as regular maintenance.

Checklist by scenario

Before a normal journey

• Walk around the car and look for a noticeably low tyre.
• Check for nails, screws, glass, cuts, exposed cords or objects trapped in the tread.
• Look for sidewall bulges, cracking, deep scuffs or deformation.
• Confirm that valve caps are fitted and that no valve appears damaged.
• Make sure the spare wheel, inflator or repair kit is present if your car uses one.

A tyre that loses pressure repeatedly needs investigation even if it can be reinflated. The cause may be a puncture, a leaking valve, a damaged wheel or a bead-sealing problem. Avoid relying on a tyre pressure monitoring system as a substitute for visual checks; it may warn only after pressure has already changed.

Every few weeks and before a long trip

• Measure all four tyres when cold, including the spare if fitted.
• Compare each reading with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure.
• Adjust pressure for the intended load if the vehicle label provides a loaded setting.
• Inspect the tread across the inner, centre and outer sections.
• Check that tread wear appears broadly even from side to side.
• Remove stones from grooves only when it is safe to do so, without damaging the rubber.

Use a tread-depth gauge if possible. Tread depth should not be judged by appearance alone, and legal minimums vary by location. Treat the legal limit as a boundary, not a target: wet-road performance can become less reassuring as tread wears. Replace tyres earlier if the tread is severely uneven, damaged or unsuitable for the conditions you regularly drive in.

At a service, tyre fitting or rotation appointment

• Ask the technician to check alignment if the steering pulls or wear is uneven.
• Confirm that wheel nuts are tightened to the vehicle maker’s specification.
• Ask whether the tyre positions can be rotated according to the vehicle and tyre design.
• Record the date, mileage, tyre position and pressure adjustment.
• Check whether the tyres are directional, asymmetric or part of a staggered setup before changing positions.

Many cars can use a front-to-rear rotation pattern, but this is not universal. Directional tyres must remain pointing in their designed rolling direction, while staggered vehicles may use different sizes front and rear. Our staggered tyre setup guide explains why rotation options can be limited.

What to double-check

Pressure and load

Ask “what tyre pressure should my car have?” rather than relying on a generic figure. The answer depends on the vehicle, tyre size, axle load and sometimes driving conditions. Check all positions because front and rear recommendations may differ. After adjusting the pressure, refit the valve caps and reset the vehicle’s pressure-monitoring system if the handbook requires it.

Tread and wear pattern

Wear on both outer shoulders may indicate prolonged underinflation, while unusual centre wear can be associated with excessive inflation. Wear concentrated on one shoulder can point to alignment or suspension concerns. These patterns are clues, not definitive diagnoses, so have the car inspected before simply replacing tyres.

Sidewalls and age-related condition

Replace a tyre promptly if it has a bulge, deep cut, exposed internal material or significant cracking. A bulge can indicate internal structural damage and should not be treated as cosmetic. For more detail, read the tyre sidewall damage guide. Also check the date and condition of older tyres, particularly on vehicles that cover low mileage or spend long periods parked. If the rubber looks hardened or cracked, request a professional assessment.

Punctures and repairs

Do not assume every puncture can be repaired. Location, size, the type of damage and whether the tyre has been driven while seriously underinflated all matter. A puncture in or near the sidewall generally requires particular caution. Use our puncture repair guide as a starting point, then follow the inspection advice of a qualified fitter.

Common mistakes

• Checking pressure only when a warning appears: Make routine checks part of ownership rather than waiting for a dashboard alert.
• Measuring immediately after driving: Hot readings can be misleading. If adjustment is urgent, follow the vehicle handbook rather than releasing air based on a cold-pressure assumption.
• Using the sidewall maximum as the car setting: Start with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation.
• Inspecting only the visible outer sidewall: Inner-side damage and wear can be missed. Ask a professional to inspect areas that are difficult to see.
• Replacing one tyre without checking compatibility: Match size, construction, load rating and speed rating. On some all-wheel-drive vehicles, differences in rolling circumference may require additional care.
• Ignoring vibration or pulling: These symptoms may relate to balance, alignment, suspension, wheels or tyres and should be investigated.
• Assuming a repair kit restores normal driving indefinitely: Follow the kit’s instructions and arrange a proper inspection as soon as practical.

When replacing tyres, consider the conditions you actually encounter. A tyre chosen for wet-road confidence, winter temperatures, highway use or mixed seasonal driving may be more suitable than one selected on price alone. Compare options in the context of the vehicle and see our guide to all-season, summer and winter tyres.

When to revisit

Use this checklist whenever you fit new tyres, change wheel sizes, alter the vehicle’s typical load or prepare for a long journey. Recheck pressure after seasonal temperature changes, after carrying an unusually heavy load and whenever the car has been unused for an extended period. A pressure reading can also be worthwhile after striking a pothole or kerb.

Review the tyres before seasonal changes if you switch between summer and winter sets. Inspect both the tyres currently fitted and those going into storage, and note any damage or uneven wear before installation. If you are considering all-season tyres instead, assess whether their performance and markings suit your local conditions and driving pattern.

Keep a short record of pressure readings, tread measurements, rotations, repairs and replacement dates. At each check, compare the new observation with the previous one. A gradual pressure loss, accelerating wear pattern or recurring vibration is easier to act on when recorded.

Practical next step: find your vehicle’s recommended cold pressures, check all four tyres and the spare today, then record the tread condition and any concerns. If you find a bulge, exposed material, severe cracking, a persistent leak or a tyre that has been driven flat, avoid unnecessary driving and arrange a professional inspection.