The most obvious sign is visible tread wear indicators — small raised bars moulded into the tyre grooves. When the tread wears down to the level of these bars, the tyre is at or near the legal minimum and must be replaced. Another key sign is cracking or crazing on the tyre sidewall, which indicates the rubber has dried out and degraded, often due to age even if the tyre has not been used heavily.
Bulges or blisters on the tyre surface are a serious warning. These occur when the internal structure of the tyre is damaged, usually after hitting a pothole or kerb at speed. A bulging tyre can fail suddenly and without warning — if you spot one, stop driving on that tyre immediately and call for emergency mobile tyre fitting. Vibration through the steering wheel can also signal a tyre problem, though this can equally point to wheel balancing issues.
Finally, if you are regularly topping up pressure in one tyre, you almost certainly have a slow puncture. This is particularly common in Cardiff where road surfaces can be poor. Do not ignore it — a tyre running soft puts stress on the sidewalls and can cause a dangerous blowout. Contact Royal Mobile Tyres and we will come to your location to diagnose and repair the issue the same day.
