Tyres & Tyre Replacement

You may need new tyres if you spot some or all of the following:

1. Low tread depth. Check the tread depth of your tyres using the 20p test. If the tread depth is below the legal minimum of 3mm (or less than the outer rim of a 20p coin), it’s time to get a replacement.
2. Cracking. Inspect the tyre and sidewalls for visible cracks, as these can indicate ageing and potential structural damage.
3. Flat tyre. Some slow punctures are easily fixed — but not all flat tyres can be repaired. A technician will be able to assess the damage and tell you if a repair would be feasible (or even legal!).
4. Flat spots or ‘balding’. This is common when a vehicle sits for a long time. The weight of the vehicle can lead to ‘bald’ spots on the tyre, compromising performance and sometimes making driving quite dangerous.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s worth checking in with your local Kwik Fit to see if you need a tyre replacement.

It may surprise you to hear that not all cars come with a spare wheel! Take a look in your car’s boot – is there a spot where a tyre should clearly be? If not, it’s highly likely that your car is fitted with run-flats. Find more information on spare wheels here.

For one, if you don’t have a spare tyre (or obvious space for one) in the boot, that’s a pretty good indicator your car has run-flat tyres.

You’ll also be able to tell from the markings on the sidewall of your tyres. If they’re run-flat tyres, they may be marked with a code like ‘ROF’, ‘EMT’, ‘ZP’, or ‘ZPS’. Learn more about identifying run-flat tyres here.

Several factors impact tyre wear, including:

• Misaligned suspension or wheel alignment. This can lead to uneven tyre wear.
• Tracking. If incorrect, it can cause rapid and uneven wear.
• Driving habits. Heavy braking, sharp turns, and aggressive driving can all accelerate wear.
• Tyre maintenance. If tyres aren’t maintained properly – for example, they are under- or over-inflated – they can wear unevenly. This will also impact your fuel efficiency!
• Road conditions. Debris, potholes, and rough roads can contribute to wear.

Find out more about what causes excessive or uneven tyre wear in our blog.

Some of the most common tyre issues to keep an eye out for include flats, punctures, slow punctures, the presence of foreign objects, corroded alloys, and damaged valves. The best way to stay on top of tyre maintenance is simply to pay attention to your tyres — take a look at their condition every week or so and head to a local garage if you’re unsure of anything or notice any damage.

The longevity of tyres depends on a variety of factors, like driving conditions and maintenance. Most tyres have a maximum shelf life of 10 years, but will generally need replacing sooner. Front tyres should be changed after 20,000 miles, while rear tyres can typically last a little longer – around 40,000 miles. Premium tyres, from brands like Pirelli, Michelin, and Continental are known for their superior durability and tend to outlast budget brands, making them a reliable choice in the long term.

Please make sure you bring your locking wheel nut key along for your appointment. If you have locking wheel nuts fitted, we will need the key in order to remove the wheels from your car. The locking wheel nut key can usually be found in the glove box or underneath the boot liner along with the spare tyre.

If you have booked in advance, fitting usually takes less than an hour and you are welcome to wait in-centre while the tyres are fitted.

All tyres fitted at a Kwik Fit centre are covered by a lifetime mileage warranty that protects against manufacturing defects. Because of the breadth of possibilities for tyre damage while driving, we're not able to guarantee the tyre condition – but you can opt for TyreCare insurance from as little as £5.99 per tyre. This covers you for any accidental or malicious damage to the tyre.

Different cars need different tyres to meet their unique requirements: 4x4s, for example, need tyres with large tread in order to maintain grip in off-road conditions. Approved Fitment tyres, also known as Homologated tyres, are designed by a tyre manufacturer in partnership with your car's brand and intended to be the perfect fitment for everything your car's designed to do.

Most cars have a variety of recommended tyre fitments so it's not possible to say what size tyres you have fitted just based on your car's make and model. The best way to find out is to look at the tyres themselves, the markings on the side of the tyre give you everything you need to know – here's what the markings mean.

This depends a lot on the tyre itself, the conditions you drive in, how you drive, and how often you drive. Tyres wear through overuse but can also crack and perish through lack of use in hot-cold seasons like spring & autumn. The rule of thumb is that a tyre should last around 20,000 miles before it needs to be replaced due to general wear and tear.

It is strongly advised that the type, size, and tread pattern of the front and rear tyres match. This is why we recommend replacing your tyres in axel pairs. Whether your vehicle is front or rear wheel drive, if you only need to change one tyre, it should be mounted on the back axle.

Yes, using the proper tyres can improve the handling, grip, and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. It's important to remember that different tyres are made for different weather situations and driving styles. We recommend checking your car's manual or getting in touch with the tyre experts at your local Kwik Fit to ensure you're using the right tyres for your vehicle.