Hello

I did have a similar thread 3 or 4 months back on getting new tyres, but since the service and MOT I had I didn't need to. Anyway Im hoping some can give me some rough advice on when I should get new tyres on my 2019 plate Fiesta (18" alloys)

When I had the service (9th may) i did get an advisory on the front tyres, tread stated 4.0/5.0/5.0 on the fronts.

I just did the old 20p trick and the middle and inner edge of the tyre is still fine, but on the outer edge tread Its on the limit of the 20p band. If it is fine in the middle and the inside edge does that mean Im ok for a little longer or do they need changing soon or straight away?

I do roughly 3500/4000 miles a year.

 

I dont think the 20p is exactly the most precise way, lol. I also checked them little groove bars inside the tyre and the outer edge is not level with it yet. Im guessing Im around 3.5 on the outer, so maybe the next 1-2 months is a good time to change?

 

Thanks

 

 

If it's wearing on the inner edge then that suggests that the wheel alignment/geometry could be out so go and get that checked, preferably on a laser type like a Hunter system. Even after that, you may find that the current tyres will continue to wear unevenly, until you change the tyres.

For a tyre tread depth to pass an MOT, only the centre 3/4 of the tread need to be 1.6mm or more. That's not to say that if the edges are showing cord then that it will pass. However everyone changes their tyres to what they prefer, some at 3mm, some at 1.6mm and some don't bother until something serious happens or gets picked up on the MOT or service.

6 minutes ago, Frembrit said:

If it's wearing on the inner edge then that suggests that the wheel alignment/geometry could be out so go and get that checked, preferably on a laser type like a Hunter system. Even after that, you may find that the current tyres will continue to wear unevenly, until you change the tyres.

For a tyre tread depth to pass an MOT, only the centre 3/4 of the tread need to be 1.6mm or more. That's not to say that if the edges are showing cord then that it will pass. However everyone changes their tyres to what they prefer, some at 3mm, some at 1.6mm and some don't bother until something serious happens or gets picked up on the MOT or service.

Thanks, no its not wearing on the inner edge, its the outer edge on the fronts that is getting close to the limit, I guessing its around 3.5-4.0 on outer edge as had service in may which was at 4.0 on outer edge, so haven't done that many miles since then.

Im thinking a good time will be mid September some time to get them changed, I was going to just get all 4 changed even though the rears are still ok.

As suggested earlier, you really need to be getting the alignment sorted asap. Get that issue rectified and your tyres that you have will last you a lot longer.

If you have outer edge wear on the front pair the when you get the alignment done ask them to swap your fronts to the rear which will also help.

I've just had my two fronts replaced and there is still a good 3mm left on the rears so when they get replaced I will be putting the fronts on the rear and having the new tyres on the front.

As wino and fembrit said, get your alignement checked. I would suggest that you also get a tread depth gauge and regulalry mesure the tread depth - at 3 points around the circumference of the tyre, and in each groove across the tyre. Do this when the tyres are brand new to get a baseline, then every couple of months or so then you will get a good idea of how tyre wear is progressing - indicating possible inflation issues or alignment issues.

Invest in a tread depth gauge, definitely (about£3 ???)

tyres start with about 8 mm depth. Assuming you need to change at 2mm (though sooner than that if you prefer),  5.0mm is half worn.

Probably get 24k miles from fronts, maybe 44k miles from rears.  So if you're cautious,  I would change fronts at about 20k miles (i.e. Autumn 2023) and rears at 35k miles (which would be 3 yrs later, based on your annual mileage).

On 8/7/2022 at 9:15 PM, alanfp said:

Invest in a tread depth gauge, definitely (about£3 ???)

tyres start with about 8 mm depth. Assuming you need to change at 2mm (though sooner than that if you prefer),  5.0mm is half worn.

Probably get 24k miles from fronts, maybe 44k miles from rears.  So if you're cautious,  I would change fronts at about 20k miles (i.e. Autumn 2023) and rears at 35k miles (which would be 3 yrs later, based on your annual mileage).

When I plan to change them I was just going to get all 4 replaced, costly but then by the time they need replacing again I would likely have a new car anyway.

 

On 8/1/2022 at 1:38 PM, Wino said:

As suggested earlier, you really need to be getting the alignment sorted asap. Get that issue rectified and your tyres that you have will last you a lot longer.

If you have outer edge wear on the front pair the when you get the alignment done ask them to swap your fronts to the rear which will also help.

I've just had my two fronts replaced and there is still a good 3mm left on the rears so when they get replaced I will be putting the fronts on the rear and having the new tyres on the front.

 

Isn't it normal for the outer edge on the fronts to wear a little faster though, as I mentioned in my OP at service a few months back they both measured 4.0/5.0/5.0, so if i understand that correctly the outer wear is at 4mm.

I always thought the outer edge would get the most road stress, from turning, bumps e.g

39 minutes ago, mitch84 said:

 

Isn't it normal for the outer edge on the fronts to wear a little faster though, as I mentioned in my OP at service a few months back they both measured 4.0/5.0/5.0, so if i understand that correctly the outer wear is at 4mm.

I always thought the outer edge would get the most road stress, from turning, bumps e.g

I wouldn't of thought so tbh unless you are constantly scrubbing the kerb when parking up.

 

3 hours ago, mitch84 said:

When I plan to change them I was just going to get all 4 replaced, costly but then by the time they need replacing again I would likely have a new car anyway.

 

If you plan to change all 4 at once I'd suggest you put the best ones (most tread) on the front as they will wear down quicker, then re-check a few months later. However as people have suggested, first buy yourself a tread gauge. You can get them from Halfords or any local car parts shop for a few quid.

 

I'd recommend spending a bit extra on a digital gauge in the 21st century.  Saves trying to work out tiny increments, particularly if your vision isn't the best.

I've got one of these but there are other options.  Halfords Digital Tyre Pressure/Tread Gauge | Halfords UK

On 8/9/2022 at 1:47 PM, TomsFocus said:

I'd recommend spending a bit extra on a digital gauge in the 21st century.  Saves trying to work out tiny increments, particularly if your vision isn't the best.

I've got one of these but there are other options.  Halfords Digital Tyre Pressure/Tread Gauge | Halfords UK

Hi 

Little update, I purchased a digital gauge recently, upon checking myself, unless Im doing something wrong the service technician has completely measured the front tread wrong and put advisory on my service papers. As I stated a few months back it was stated as around 4-5mm across the the fronts, and they said I should look to replace the tyres soon or in the coming months.

I checked today and they were showing between 6-7mm across the fronts.

I made sure I had zeroed then digital gauge before checking each time. Unless Im doing something wrong, or are Ford service centres just trying to get me to buy new tyres when I don't need them.

45 minutes ago, mitch84 said:

are Ford service centres just trying to get me to buy new tyres when I don't need them.

What??? You think they might do that??? Surely not!

On a more practical note, do you have a friend/neighbour/family member who can spend two minutes double-checking your readings.  I'm sure they would be happy to help.

18 minutes ago, alanfp said:

On a more practical note, do you have a friend/neighbour/family member who can spend two minutes double-checking your readings.  I'm sure they would be happy to help.

Yeah will do, Im pretty sure Im reading it correctly though, I can clearly see the 3 little bars inside the grooves, which I believe are measured at 1.6mm when the tyre tread is level with them.

And there is a quite a chunk of tread before it's anywhere near these bar limits.

Are you measuring at the very edges of the central three quarters?  That's not necessarily where the radial bands are, you may have to use one of the cross-hatch grooves instead.

Either way, even 5mm is still plenty of tread.  Dealerships tend to change at 3mm which is almost double the legal limit.

5 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Are you measuring at the very edges of the central three quarters?  That's not necessarily where the radial bands are, you may have to use one of the cross-hatch grooves instead.

Either way, even 5mm is still plenty of tread.  Dealerships tend to change at 3mm which is almost double the legal limit.

Not sure exactly what you mean, but Im measuring each of the 3 large grooves in each tyre, where the small bands are situated.

 

I will just keep an eye on it over Winter and into Spring and then look to change maybe.

8 minutes ago, mitch84 said:

Not sure exactly what you mean, but Im measuring each of the 3 large grooves in each tyre, where the small bands are situated.

Yeah, that's not quite how it's done legally.

It's the central 3/4s that matters.  So if you've got a 205 wide tyre, you should be measuring the depth across 151mm of the tread.  This shows what I mean, not all tyres have 3 bands, and those that do may not be at the edges of the central 3/4s.

 

7 hours ago, mitch84 said:

the service technician has completely measured the front tread wrong and put advisory on my service papers. As I stated a few months back it was stated as around 4-5mm

The funny thing is that Ford and other manufactures have done a deal with tyre manufactures to get specially made 'factory fitted' tyres which only have 6mm of tread (instead of the normal 8mm). This new practice of supplying brand new cars with tyres that have less tread was afaik first noted on Puma's back in 2020.