Driving with poor tires increases the risk of an accident, but also fuel consumption.
Before setting off on vacation, remember to check the pressure and wear.
Here is all you need to know.
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Under-inflated, or too worn, the French do not take sufficient care of their tires. According to a survey by Auto-Plus magazine published in 2019, more than one in two motorists (54%) drive with tires in poor condition. “I don’t check often“, recognizes a woman in the TF1 report to see above.”Generally, once a year, before going on vacation“, explains a motorist.
Tires in poor condition obviously mean less grip and more distance needed to brake. Furthermore, your car will need more energy to put the wheels in motion, and it will therefore consume a little more fuel, of the order of 0.3 liters per 100 kilometers. This may not seem like much, but by driving 20,000 kilometers per year, the additional cost is around 120 euros.
In general, we recommend changing when the tire is between 5 and 7 years old, because the rubber will start to disintegrate.
A mechanic
To drive safely, without losing money, it is advisable to check your tire pressure regularly. Ideally, once a month. But you still need to know the minimum and maximum pressure. “The first place [où regarder]it’s the door [avant]. For some manufacturers, it is in the fuel door. Otherwise, it is written in the maintenance booklet“, explains, at the microphone of TF1, Sonia Boufafa-Sorrant, manager of the “Jumbo Pneus” garage in Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme).
Concerning wear, even if the lifespan of a tire is between 20,000 and 90,000 km, it is advisable to check their condition every year with a professional after 5 years of use. After 10 years, even if the tires are in good condition, you must change them. And this also applies to the spare wheel. “In general, we recommend changing when the tire is between 5 and 7 years old, because the rubber will start to disintegrate.“, indicates a mechanic in front of our camera.
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When should you change your car tires?
To find out the manufacturing date of your tires, just look on the side. Each tire has an identification number printed on its sidewall. This code is made up of numbers and letters. Here, it is only the last four numbers that interest us: the first two give the week and the last two the year. For example, if you have the inscription “1623”, this means that your tire was manufactured in the 16th week of the year 2023. Remember to check before setting off on vacation!
