Ownership and maintenance

Ownership and maintenance

Pressure, age, wear, cost and service decisions after the tires are fitted.

Tire age & DOT date code guide How to find and decode the DOT date code on your tire sidewall to determine its manufacturing week and year, and when to replace old tires. Tire pressure guide What PSI should your tires be? How to find the correct pressure, what the TPMS light means, effects of over- and under-inflation, and how temperature changes pressure. Cold tire pressure guide How cold tire pressure works: the 1 PSI per 10°F (0.1 bar per 8°C) temperature rule, when to check pressure (cold only), morning vs driven-tyre readings, altitude effects, and seasonal adjustment. Tire pressure for heavy loads and towing When and how to increase tire pressure for heavy loads: XL (Extra Load) tire pressure requirements, laden vs unladen recommended pressure, adjusting rear axle pressure when towing, front vs rear axle pressure differences, and what happens when you tow on under-inflated tires. Trailer and caravan tire pressure guide Correct tire pressure for trailers, caravans, and horse boxes: why trailer tires are inflated much higher than car tires, how to find the right spec, load-dependent pressures, and the consequences of under-inflation on a towed vehicle. Tire rotation guide How often should you rotate your tires? Recommended intervals, the best rotation patterns for FWD/RWD/AWD, and what happens if you skip it. Tire storage guide How to store winter or summer tires correctly. Best conditions, stacking vs hanging vs upright, recommended pressure, bags vs bare, and how long tires can safely be stored. TPMS guide How TPMS works: direct (pressure sensor in each wheel) vs indirect (ABS wheel-speed comparison), what the warning light means, when to reset, and what TPMS cannot detect. Tire valve types: TR413, TPMS sensors, and metal valves Tire valve types explained: TR413 rubber snap-in vs metal clamp-in vs TPMS sensor valves, maximum pressure ratings, replacement intervals, valve core maintenance, why bent valve stems should not be straightened, and what happens if a valve leaks. Tire noise: a symptom to document, not a remote diagnosis Source-reviewed tire-noise workflow: record the condition, read the EU label correctly and use qualified inspection instead of assigning a cause from sound alone. Tire wear rate: measure the tire, not a generic mileage promise Source-reviewed tire-wear workflow: repeatable tread measurements, irregular-wear escalation, UTQG limits and manufacturer-led maintenance. Tire wear patterns: an inspection clue, not a remote diagnosis Source-reviewed tire wear-pattern workflow: record condition, check vehicle instructions and use qualified inspection instead of one-cause diagnosis. Tire cracking and ageing guide Tire cracking causes: ozone craze, UV degradation, thermal cycling, and storage conditions. How to assess crack severity, when surface cracks are cosmetic vs structural, the 6-year age rule, and how to slow rubber ageing. Tire flat spots: vibration needs inspection, not a road test Source-reviewed tire vibration and flat-spot workflow: document the condition, follow vehicle instructions and use qualified inspection instead of a road-test verdict. Tire compound guide How tire rubber compounds work: glass transition temperature, silica vs carbon black filler, summer vs winter compound differences, and how compound affects wet grip and rolling resistance. Tire tread patterns: sidewall markings control the next step Source-reviewed tire tread-pattern workflow for sidewall markings, vehicle-specific rotation, exact-product wet/noise evidence and mounting limits. Mixing tires without hiding the compatibility limits Source-reviewed tire-mixing workflow for matched axles, AWD tolerances, staggered fitments, seasonal sets, run-flat tires and local rules. Tire fitting and mounting cost guide Tire fitting and mounting costs explained: what a tire shop charges, what is included (mounting, balancing, disposal, valve), extras (TPMS service, alignment, nitrogen), price ranges by tire size and region, and tips to avoid overpaying. Tire recycling guide What happens to old tires: illegal dumping law, rubber crumb applications, tyre-derived fuel, devulcanisation, EU End-of-Life Vehicle rules, how to dispose of tires legally. Tire retreading guide Tire retreading explained: the process of applying new tread rubber to a worn casing, safety standards (TRA, ECE R109), who uses retreads (trucks, aircraft, buses), whether retreads are legal and safe for passenger cars, and environmental benefits. Tire warranty guide How tire warranties work: manufacturer defect coverage, what voids warranty (road hazard, under-inflation, mounting damage), pro-rata tread wear warranties, and how to make a claim. Tire road hazard warranty: what is covered, what is excluded, and how to claim Road hazard tire warranty guide: what counts as a road hazard (nails/screws, potholes, sharp road debris causing irreparable damage), what is not covered (repairable punctures, gradual wear, vandalism, improper inflation, curb damage, accidents), how pro-rata replacement credit works, claim procedure (when and where to go), the difference from manufacturer defect warranty, and whether road hazard protection is worth buying. Tire rolling resistance: EU label and evidence guide Source-reviewed guide to rolling resistance, current EU A–E classes, fuel-economy evidence and safe tire comparison. Tire contact patch: evidence and measurement guide Source-reviewed guide to tire contact-patch estimates, pressure, width, wet grip, measurement limits and exact-product evidence. Tire cornering stiffness and slip angle: evidence guide Source-reviewed guide to slip angle, cornering-stiffness measurement, tire test conditions, understeer, oversteer, ESC and replacement limits. Directional vs non-directional tires: how to identify them, fitting rules, and rotation patterns Directional tire guide: how to identify directional tires (V-shaped tread pointing toward the car when viewed from the front, arrow or ROTATION label on sidewall), why the direction matters (aquaplaning resistance, wet braking, noise), consequences of fitting backwards (reduced wet drainage, increased aquaplaning risk), rotation rules (directional can only swap front-rear on the same side, cannot be cross-rotated without demounting), asymmetric tire orientation (OUTSIDE label must face out), and whether a directional tire can be used as a spare in an emergency. Nitrogen vs air in tires Nitrogen vs air in tires: does nitrogen keep pressure more stable, reduce moisture, and extend tire life? Science-based comparison — when it matters and when it does not. EU tyre label guide How to read the EU tyre label: fuel efficiency grades A–E, wet braking grades A–E, exterior noise in dB and 1–3 waves, and what each rating means for real-world driving. UTQG ratings explained: treadwear, traction, and temperature grades on your tire sidewall UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading) guide: treadwear index (100 = reference, 200 = twice as long, 50 = half as long), traction grade (AA best wet stopping to C minimum), temperature grade (A best heat resistance to C minimum), what UTQG does not measure (dry grip, handling, hydroplaning, winter traction), which tires are exempt (winter tires, T-type spare, competition tires), and how to compare UTQG ratings when buying.

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Technical check: 2026-06-28
Content updated: 2026-06-28

What changed

Added pillar pages for the existing guide bundle taxonomy.