In Australian states like Victoria, a roadworthy certificate is issued to motorists to say that all aspects of their car — including its wheels — have been professionally checked to ensure it is legal on the road. Any mechanical repairs you need in order to be properly certificated must be carried out, including those to the wheels and tyres. However, once you are driving in a properly certificated vehicle, things can change. In particular, a great deal of focus should be placed on the quality and condition of your tyres because these items wear down more rapidly than other parts of the car, such as engine components. What do drivers need to know to ensure their car is as roadworthy today as the day it was certificated?

Properly Inflated Tyres

You might not believe it, but many motorists never check their tyre pressure and only have this done when a mechanical repair is needed or when their car is serviced. You should check the pressure of your tyres every few thousand miles. Try to do this every three or four times you fill up with petrol. Under-inflated tyres lead to greater rolling resistance, which means fewer miles per gallon. If left, part-flattened tyres will lead to you not being able to turn properly at speed, which could cause a crash. Flat tyres will land you in trouble with the police if they notice your car is not roadworthy because of them.

Balding Tyres

Just because your tyre had sufficient tread depth when you received your roadworthy certificate does not mean they are okay now. If your car had a tread depth of around 2 mm when tested, then you were road legal. However, it does not take long for this to drop down to the point of being considered illegal. If you pull away fast and burn your remaining tread, then your tyres may become un-roadworthy within weeks.

Bulging Tyres

When tyres age, they tend to bulge out at the side. This is sometimes hard to spot on your car because it may happen on the inside of the wheel. Bulging tyres ought to be replaced sooner rather than later. They develop because the rubber compound on the tyre is starting to break up. Left unattended, this process can lead to you suffering a terrifying blowout. If this happens on a high-speed stretch of road, then you could easily lose control of the car and spin out, putting yourself and other road users at risk from injury.

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