Most Common Reasons For A Loss Of Tyre Grip
Tyres are a crucial part of any vehicle, responsible for providing traction and stability to the vehicle. When tyres lose their grip, they can cause the vehicle to skid, slide or lose control. This loss of grip can be dangerous and can lead to accidents, so it’s imperative to check your tyres regularly and ensure they are safe for driving.
In this blog, we’ll explore the reasons why tyres lose their grip, how to check them, and when you should replace them.
What can cause a tyre to lose grip?
Incorrect Tyre Pressure
One of the most common reasons why tyres lose grip is over or under-inflation. Tyres that have been overinflated have a smaller contact patch with the road, which can reduce traction and stability, whilst also causing uneven wear across the tyre.
Underinflated tyres have a larger contact patch with the road, which can cause the tyre to deform and in turn, lose grip. It is therefore essential to ensure your tyre pressure is at the correct level specified by the manufacturer. To find the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle, click the button below.
Tyre Pressure
Tread Depth
Tread depth is a crucial part of tyre maintenance. As the tyre wears down, the depth of the tread reduces, limiting the amount of contact between the road surface and the tyre. This can cause the tyre to lose grip, especially on wet roads.
Therefore, it’s essential to regularly check the tread depth and replace the tyres once the depth is below 3mm.
At National, we offer a FREE tyre check, in which we’ll check your tread depth. To book a FREE check, click the button below.
Free Check
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is the angle and direction of the wheels in relation to the road. With an incorrect wheel alignment, the vehicle can be pulled to one side, causing the tyres to lose grip and create uneven wear across the tyre surface. This also reduces the tyre's lifespan, causing a further loss of grip.
Therefore, it is essential to have your alignment checked and adjusted frequently, in order to extend the lifespan of your tyres and their grip.
To book your vehicle in for a wheel alignment, click the link below.
Wheel Alignment
General Tyre Wear
Over time, a tyre will wear down and lose its grip. Depending on driving style, a tyre will typically last up to 20,000 miles. During this time, factors such as heat and acceleration. Which causes the rubber on the tyre to degrade and offer less grip.
Therefore, it is essential to check your tyres regularly and have them replaced when you begin to notice wheel spin or if the tread depth is lower than 3mm.
To order new tyres for your vehicle, click the link below.
Order Tyres
Wet or Slippery Surfaces
Your tyres may not be losing grip due to the tyres themselves, it could simply be down to the road surface. When the road is wet or icy, the friction between the tyre and the road surface is significantly reduced, which can lead to a lack of grip and wheel spin.
To prevent tyres from skidding on a wet surface, ensure you drive cautiously and have plenty of tyre tread to help disperse the water.
How To Check Your Tyres
You should regularly check your tyres for imperfections. You can do this visually, by simply looking for anything in the tyre, such as a nail, or by looking for cracks, punctures and bulges. You can also check your tread depth by looking for the tread depth patch.
If your tread is level with the tread marker, you will need to have your tyres replaced, as they will be below a safe level of tread depth.
You can also check your tread depth by using a 20p coin. Simply insert the coin into the tyre groove, and if the border of the coin is visible, your tyres are below the legal depth limit of 1.6mm. For more information on how to check your tyres, click the link below.
How To Check Tyre Tread
When Should You Replace Your Tyres
Tyres can lose their grip due to various factors, such as incorrect pressure, low tread depth, road surfaces or wheel alignment. To prevent your tyres from losing grip, it is essential to maintain all these aspects of your vehicle.
If you still notice a lack of grip whilst driving, despite your tyre being in good condition, then you will likely need your tyre replaced.
To easily order new tyres for your vehicle online, click the link below.
Purchase Tyres
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