Maintain safe braking distances

When it comes to the safety and performance of your tyres - tread depth is vital.

Your ability to brake safely and effectively is partially dependent on the quality and condition of your tyres. Of course, maintaining a safe distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you is also important. Driving at least 3 seconds behind the vehicle in front of you is considered a safe following distance in ideal driving conditions. When you don’t do this, it can hinder your ability to effectively and safely stop your vehicle in time to avoid a collision.

The speed you’re travelling at, the driving conditions and the type of vehicle that you drive are all factors that will determine what defines a safe following distance. But back to your tyres - let’s talk tread depth.

What’s the legal tread depth in Australia?

When it comes to safe braking - legal tread depth is essential. In Australia, the legal limit for tread depth on your car tyres is 1.5mm.

How do I assess the tread depth of my tyres?

You can assess the tread depth of your tyres in a few ways.

All tyres have wear markers. These are small blocks of rubber in the tread that are often marked by arrows on the upper sidewall to help you find them. As your tread wears down they become increasingly visible. If you notice that the bars are level with the surface of the tread, they are worn to the legal limit and require immediate replacement.

You can purchase a tyre tread depth gauge at your local car parts store. When measuring your tyres it’s important to measure the outer and inner sides of the tyre, as well as in the middle, taking care not to place the gauge on the wear bar itself.

You can even assess the tread depth of your tyres using a 20c coin! Simply place the coin into the tread of the tyre - if the tread does not reach the bill of the platypus, there is less than 3mm of tread remaining on your tyres. Once your tyre tread is down to around 3mm, it’s a good idea to start looking into a new set of tyres.

Have you noticed that the wear on your tyres is uneven? This can be caused by a number of factors, including tyres that are under or overinflated, or may possibly be the result of a bad alignment.

You should regularly check and maintain correct tyre inflation pressures to achieve even tyre wear. This can ensure that your tyres are correctly inflated at all times.

Sticking to the recommended intervals for a tyre rotation will also assist in achieving even tyre wear.

Maintaining safe braking distances is essential when it comes to on-road safety. Just as important are the condition of your tyres. The quality and condition of your tyres will have a noticeable impact on your ability to brake effectively. If you have any concerns regarding the condition and safety of your tyres, we are here to help.

Let the professionals at Marks & Wallings assess both the external and internal condition of your vehicle’s tyres. We will advise you on any required tyre maintenance or replacements and stock a great range of top tyre brands including Falken, Pirelli and Michelin.