Which car tyres should I buy?

Tyres can be an underestimated part of a car’s anatomy, often neglected during car maintenance and replaced only when strictly necessary.

However, given that every accelerative, braking and directional force applied is passing through the small area of rubber in contact with the road, it’s essential to make sure they are in good condition and that you buy wisely.

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How long do car tyres last and when should you replace them?

Although you must replace your tyres when they reach the legal limit, it pays to look for earlier signs. Different cars, roads and driving styles dramatically impact tyre wear, so we recommend keeping an eye on signs of damage, the tread depth and the age of your tyres. 

Damage: If a tyre has any lumps or bulges this suggests its structure is failing, which would fail an MOT and likely get you a ticket if you're stopped by the police. Similarly, if any of the tyre’s internal metal cords are exposed, it’s time to change them immediately for the same reason.

Tread depth: The legal limit of tread depth across 3/4 of a tyre's surface is 1.6mm. However, don't wait for your tyre to get close to that as the tyre's grip – especially when there's standing water involved – gets progressively worse as it nears the minimum depth. Start looking for replacements when the depth reaches 2-3mm. A new tyre has a tread depth of about 8mm, though specialist performance tyres can come with much less than this. 

Take advice from the technician during your car's MOT or annual service. Ideally, you should replace all your car tyres at the same time, but this is rarely practical because front and rear tyres can wear at different rates, depending on your car. To prolong the life of your tyres, you could consider rotating the tyres – putting the back ones on the front and vice-versa – midway though their life, but ensure they are all equally sized before doing so.

Age: You'll get varying advice on how old a tyre needs to be before you replace it, but a common rule that some people stick to is replacing tyres once they are 10 years old, as the materials in the tyre may have started to degrade. Markings (known as the DOT code) on your tyre provide the year (and the week of the year) of manufacture, but if you're unsure you should consult a tyre retailer or mechanic. As an example, a four digit code of 0820 would mean the tyre was manufactured in the eighth week of 2020.

Summer or winter tyres?

In the UK, vehicles are fitted with summer tyres as standard. These offer the highest grip levels in warm, dry conditions, but are also designed to provide plenty of grip in wet weather. For most drivers they will be the default choice, given their all-round performance.

However, if you’re changing tyres during the winter, you could consider specialised winter tyres. These are constructed from a different rubber compound that stays supple at lower temperatures. Below 7°C, winter tyres will generally outperform summer tyres in terms of outright grip.

Winter tyres also features tread blocks with small cuts or ‘sipes’. These sipes improve traction on both snow and ice enormously, and will give greater control in the slipperiest of conditions.

Of course, when the temperature rises above 7°C, it’s worth changing back to summer tyres, as not only will they perform better, but winter tyres wear out a lot quicker when used at higher temperatures.

Winter tyres are identifiable by the 'snow flake and mountain' symbol. Read our winter tyre guide for further advice.

All-season tyres

Bridging the gap between summer and winter tyres are all-season alternatives, which purport to offer improved performance in cold and slippery conditions without impinging on performance during the summer. However, their performance levels will not be as high in particularly hot or cold weather as dedicated summer and winter tyres.

For example, where winter tyres are a legal requirement during colder months (Germany, for instance), the majority of all-season tyres do not meet performance requirements and are unsuitable, so if you're driving overseas during the winter, check the tyre regulations of the countries you're driving through.

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Run-flat tyres

Run-flat tyres are becoming increasingly popular. If you have a puncture on your journey, a run-flat tyre uses a stiffened sidewall that supports the vehicle weight, so you can travel for another 50 miles or so at a maximum speed of around 50mph. The idea is it gets you to your local tyre dealer without you having to repair or change the tyre at the roadside.

There are many markings that could indicate your tyre is a run-flat tyre. These include DSST, RFT, ROF and RunFL.

Run-flat tyres and traditional car tyres should not be mixed on the same car, as it could affect the ride and handling.

TyreSafe, an organisation that promotes tyre safety, advises run-flat tyres should not be used on cars without a tyre-pressure monitoring system, which is used to alert you of a deflation or puncture.

It also warns against using deflated run-flat tyres when towing, as they're only designed to support the weight of the vehicle itself.

Used and part-worn tyres

It is legal for garages in the UK to sell part-worn – or second-hand – car tyres, but only if they are safe and properly marked. In addition to being free of the defects that would render a tyre unfit for purpose (for example, cuts and bulges), there are various additional steps sellers must take to comply with the law. This includes:

• Ensuring all original markings on the sidewall of the tyre are legible
• Ensuring tyres have a tread depth of at least 2mm
• Inscribing the words 'PART WORN' on the sidewall in letters at least 4mm high 
• Repairing any damage to specific British standards

A DVSA investigation into used tyre sellers found that while 96% of tyres checked in the investigation had plenty of tread depth, more than four fifths (85%) were non-compliant due to not having the correct markings. In addition, some of the tyres found were more than 10 years old. As such, you should be careful when buying used tyres and walk away if the tyres you're looking at don't meet the DVSA's requirements. 

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Where to buy car tyres

There are lots of ways of getting the right rubber for your car.

One option is to buy your tyres from your vehicle’s main dealer. It’s likely it will have the right size and recommended brand for your car, which is handy if you need them quickly. Expect to pay a premium, though, as they are often supplied by specialist dealers.

Nationwide tyre fitters, such as Kwik Fit, Halfords Autocentres and F1 Autocentres, are another convenient option as they’ll quickly be able to advise you on suitable tyres for your vehicle and change them while you wait. 

Online sellers, such as Black Circles, Etyres and MyTyres (we haven't tested or rated these brands ourselves), have a very wide selection and prices can be low. But they’re not so useful if you need a tyre at short notice – you usually need to make an appointment to have the tyres sent to and fitted at a local garage.

Some online sellers will have dedicated mobile tyre-fitting services and will change your tyres for you at your workplace or home.

It’s worth contacting several different tyre retailers to compare costs. If one retailer offers you a good deal, but is further away, try asking a nearer firm to match the offer. However, you usually won't be able to negotiate with an online supplier. Ensure any quote includes the cost of new valves and balancing the tyres, as well as simply fitting them.

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