Tyre inspection checklist
How do you inspect your tyres at home and what should you check?
A monthly tyre inspection takes 5 minutes and requires no specialist tools. Check: (1) Tread depth — coin test, TWI bar, or depth gauge (legal minimum 1.6 mm; safety recommendation 3 mm). (2) Inflation pressure — check cold before driving, using a digital gauge; compare to door-sticker spec. (3) Sidewall — look for bulges, cuts, cracks, or embedded objects. (4) Tread surface — look for embedded nails, stones, or cuts; check for uneven wear (centre, edge, or one-sided). (5) Age — read the DOT date code on the sidewall (last 4 digits = week/year); replace at 10 years regardless of condition. (6) Valve caps — missing caps allow dirt into the valve core; a damaged valve causes slow deflation. (7) Overall condition — walk around the car and look for any visible lean, tyre that appears different from its partner on the other side, or wheel position that looks off. Most issues found in a home inspection are either safe to monitor for a short period or require professional examination within the next service appointment.
- A monthly tyre inspection takes 5 minutes and requires no specialist tools.
- Check: (1) Tread depth — coin test, TWI bar, or depth gauge (legal minimum 1.6 mm; safety recommendation 3 mm).
- (2) Inflation pressure — check cold before driving, using a digital gauge; compare to door-sticker spec.
FAQ
- How do you inspect your tyres at home and what should you check?
- A monthly tyre inspection takes 5 minutes and requires no specialist tools. Check: (1) Tread depth — coin test, TWI bar, or depth gauge (legal minimum 1.6 mm; safety recommendation 3 mm). (2) Inflation pressure — check cold before driving, using a digital gauge; compare to door-sticker spec. (3) Sidewall — look for bulges, cuts, cracks, or embedded objects. (4) Tread surface — look for embedded nails, stones, or cuts; check for uneven wear (centre, edge, or one-sided). (5) Age — read the DOT date code on the sidewall (last 4 digits = week/year); replace at 10 years regardless of condition. (6) Valve caps — missing caps allow dirt into the valve core; a damaged valve causes slow deflation. (7) Overall condition — walk around the car and look for any visible lean, tyre that appears different from its partner on the other side, or wheel position that looks off. Most issues found in a home inspection are either safe to monitor for a short period or require professional examination within the next service appointment.
- What should I verify before using this information?
- Use TireFitLab values as a sizing reference, then verify the vehicle handbook, tire placard, rim compatibility, load rating, and physical clearance before fitting.
How-to steps
- Check tread and pressure Measure tread depth across the width and set cold pressures from the vehicle placard rather than the tire sidewall maximum.
- Inspect sidewalls and valves Look for bulges, cracks, cuts, exposed cords, embedded objects, damaged valves, and missing caps.
- Act on urgent defects Replace or professionally inspect tires with bulges, cords visible, severe cracks, or tread below the legal minimum.
Complete monthly tyre inspection checklist
Perform this check monthly and before any journey over 200 km. Takes approximately 5 minutes for all four tyres. No tools required except a tyre pressure gauge (under €15 at any automotive retailer, or the compressor at a petrol station).
| Check | How to check | Pass criteria | If it fails | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tread depth | Coin test (see below), tread wear indicator (TWI) bars, or a digital tread depth gauge. | All grooves ≥ 1.6 mm (EU/UK legal minimum). Aim to replace at 3 mm — wet braking distance increases significantly below 3 mm. | Below 1.6 mm: replace immediately (illegal). 1.6–3 mm: schedule replacement soon. Check all four tyres and compare front vs rear. | Monthly, and before any long journey. |
| Inflation pressure | Use a calibrated digital tyre pressure gauge on a cold tyre (driven less than 3 km or left for 3+ hours). Compare to the vehicle door-sticker specification (separate values for front and rear, and load-dependent values if shown). | Within ±0.1 bar of door-sticker specification. | Inflate or deflate to correct pressure. If tyre loses pressure faster than 0.1 bar/month, investigate for slow puncture (valve leak, bead corrosion, embedded object). | Monthly minimum. Before every long journey. After significant temperature change (±10°C). |
| Sidewall condition — bulge check | Crouch down and look along the sidewall profile. Feel gently along the sidewall with your hand. Look for any protrusion, lump, or egg-shaped deformation. | Perfectly smooth, uniform profile with no protrusions. | Any bulge = replace immediately. A bulge indicates internal ply cord separation. The tyre can blow out without warning. Do not inflate higher — it will not go away. | Monthly. |
| Sidewall condition — cracks and cuts | Look along the full sidewall circumference in good light. Check both inner and outer faces if accessible. Look for surface crazing, cuts, gouges, and embedded objects. | No cuts deeper than the outer rubber layer. No cracks wider than 1 mm. Surface micro-crazing on older tyres requires monitoring. | Any cut reaching cord (white or yellow fibres visible): replace immediately. Deep cracks or Grade 2+ crazing on a tyre over 5 years old: professional inspection advised. For crack assessment grading, see our tyre cracking guide. | Monthly. |
| Tread surface — embedded objects | Inspect tread surface carefully, including the groove bases. Look for nails, screws, glass, and stones wedged into the tread or grooves. | No embedded objects in the tread or groove bases. | If a nail or screw is embedded: do NOT remove it immediately — the object may be sealing the puncture. The tyre may still be inflated. Have a professional inspect and repair it. If the tyre is deflating rapidly, change to the spare (or call recovery). | Monthly and after driving off-road, through construction sites, or noticing unusual vibration. |
| Uneven wear pattern | Compare tread depth measurements across the tread width at multiple points (inner shoulder, centre, outer shoulder). Also feel the tread edge with your hand in the direction of rotation — "feathering" is detectable by touch. | Tread depth uniform across the width (within 1.5 mm shoulder-to-shoulder). No feathering (sawtooth texture). | Centre wear (over-inflation), edge wear (under-inflation), one-sided shoulder wear (camber misalignment), feathering (toe misalignment). See tread wear indicators and wheel alignment guides for diagnosis. Address root cause before replacing tyres. | Monthly. |
| Tyre age (DOT date code) | Find the DOT code on the outer sidewall. The last 4 digits are the manufacture week and year. Example: 3021 = week 30 of 2021 = manufactured July 2021. | Under 5 years: no age-based concern. 5–10 years: inspect for cracking, consider professional check. Over 10 years: replace regardless of visible condition. | If tyre is over 10 years old: replace. If 6–10 years and shows Grade 2+ cracking: professional advice recommended. | Annually — calculate age once per year and note when each tyre reaches 6 years. |
| Valve cap and valve condition | Check that all 4 valve caps are present. Spray soapy water around the valve stem with the tyre inflated — bubbles indicate a leaking valve core. | All valve caps present. No air leaking from valve. | Missing cap: replace (€1–2 from any petrol station). Leaking valve: have the core tightened or replaced (€5–10 at any tyre shop). A leaking valve is a common source of mysterious slow pressure loss. | Monthly. |
| TPMS warning light | Check the instrument cluster after starting the vehicle. The TPMS light (tyre with exclamation mark) should not be illuminated. If it flashes for 60–90 seconds on start-up then goes solid, that is a sensor fault (not low pressure). | TPMS light off after the initial 3-second warning test. | Solid TPMS light: check all tyre pressures immediately (TPMS triggers at ~25% below specification). Flashing light: sensor fault — have system diagnosed. For detailed TPMS operation, see our TPMS guide. | Every time you start the vehicle. |
| Overall visual wheel check | Walk around the vehicle and look at each wheel. Does the tyre appear normally shaped? Does the vehicle appear level? Any visible lean or listing to one side? | Vehicle sitting level, all wheels appearing normally inflated and vertically positioned. | Vehicle listing to one side: check pressures immediately — likely a severe under-inflation or flat. Wheel appearing to lean significantly inward or outward: suspension or alignment issue requiring immediate professional inspection. | Every time you approach the vehicle — a flat tyre is often visible at 5 metres before you reach the door. |
Coin tread depth tests by country
The coin test is a quick field check using spare change. It is not as accurate as a depth gauge but gives a reliable indication of whether you are close to or below the legal limit. Insert the coin into the tread groove with the number/face pointing towards you.
| Coin | Outer band depth | What the result means |
|---|---|---|
| British 20 pence coin | 3.1 mm tall | Insert coin into groove with number facing you. If the outer band is completely hidden, tread is ≥ 3.1 mm. If the band is visible, tread is below 3.1 mm — consider replacement soon. |
| British 1 penny coin (smaller) | 1.6 mm | If the outer band is visible, tread is at or below legal minimum — replace immediately. |
| US quarter (25 cent) | 4.8 mm (to Washington's head top) | If Washington's head is fully visible, tread is below 4.8 mm (US safety advisory threshold). Insert into groove. |
| US penny (1 cent) | 2/32" (1.6 mm) — Lincoln's head | If Lincoln's entire head is visible, tread is at or below legal minimum in most US states. Replace immediately. |
| Euro 2-cent coin | 2.8 mm (outer copper ring) | Insert into groove. If the outer copper rim is visible, tread is approaching replacement territory. Not a precise instrument but a useful field check. |
For TWI bar location and regional legal limits, see our Tire tread depth guide and Tyre wear indicators guide.
Tyre wear pattern diagnosis
Uneven wear is a symptom of an underlying problem — alignment, inflation pressure, or suspension. Replacing tyres without fixing the root cause will cause rapid re-wear.
| Wear pattern | Likely cause | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Centre tread wear (more worn in the middle) | Over-inflation. Inflated above specification, the tyre rides on its centre tread. | Deflate to door-sticker pressure. Check all four tyres. |
| Both shoulder edges worn (more worn on both outer edges) | Under-inflation. Tyre flexes excessively, contact patch spreads to shoulders. | Inflate to door-sticker pressure. Inspect for slow leaks if tyre regularly under-inflates. |
| One-sided shoulder wear (one edge significantly more worn) | Camber misalignment. The tyre is tilted, loading one side of the contact patch more. | Book a 4-wheel alignment check. Inspect suspension components for wear. |
| Feathering / sawtooth pattern across tread blocks | Toe misalignment (excessive toe-in or toe-out). Tread blocks scrub sideways as the tyre rolls. | Book a 4-wheel alignment check. Easily detectable by running your hand along the tread edge in the direction of rotation — one direction feels sharp, the other smooth. |
| Cupping / scalloping (alternating worn and unworn areas in a wave) | Worn shock absorbers or struts allowing tyre to bounce. Tyre loses contact intermittently. | Have shock absorbers/struts inspected. Dynamic wheel balancing check too — imbalance can cause similar patterns but at smaller scale. |
| Flat spot (one section of tread worn flat) | ABS-less emergency braking (wheel lock), prolonged parking on one spot, or balancing issue (static flat spot). | Temporary driving flat spot usually resolves after warm-up. Permanent flat spot (cold-start thump that does not resolve): replace tyre. |
When to seek professional help — urgency guide
| Finding | Urgency | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Any sidewall bulge | Immediate — do not drive | Have tyre replaced before driving. If stranded, mount spare or call recovery. |
| Cord visible through cut, crack, or worn section | Immediate — do not drive | Replace tyre. Cord-exposure is a structural failure. |
| Tread below 1.6 mm (EU/UK legal minimum) | Same day | Book fitting immediately. Do not use for long journeys. |
| Embedded nail or screw with tyre still inflated | Same day — do not remove the object | Drive carefully to a tyre shop. The object is likely sealing the hole. A professional will decide if repair is possible (see puncture repair guide). |
| Tread below 3 mm in wet-weather market (most of Europe) | Within 2–4 weeks | Book tyre replacement. Wet braking at 3 mm is significantly longer than at 4 mm. |
| Grade 2+ cracks on tyre over 5 years old | Within next service visit | Have a tyre professional inspect and give a written opinion on remaining service life. |
| Persistent one-sided wear on new tyres | Within 2–4 weeks | Book 4-wheel alignment. New tyres will wear unevenly until the root cause is fixed. |
| TPMS light flashing (sensor fault) | Within 4 weeks | Have TPMS system diagnosed. TPMS sensor battery end-of-life is common on cars 7+ years old. |
Printable inspection summary
Monthly tyre check — 5 items in 5 minutes:
- Pressure — check cold, match door sticker.
- Tread depth — coin test or gauge. Above 3 mm (safety), above 1.6 mm (legal).
- Sidewalls — no bulges, no deep cracks, no exposed cord.
- Objects in tread — look and feel around all four grooves.
- Valve caps — all four present.
If all five pass, note the date and check again in 4 weeks. If any fail, use the urgency guide above to decide when action is needed.
More tools
- Tire tread depth guide
- Tyre wear indicators guide
- Tire pressure guide
- Sidewall damage guide
- Tyre cracking and ageing guide
- Tyre puncture repair guide
- Wheel alignment guide
- TPMS guide
- Tire & wheel reference guides
Seasonal check
Planning a long summer drive?
Use the budget and running-cost tools before a trip, especially if the current tyres are worn or the replacement size changes diameter.
What changed
- Reviewed deterministic geometry, load/speed references, sitemap inclusion and localized page shell.