What Is A Bald Tyre and How Do I Spot One?

We often take our tyres for granted, forgetting that they take most of the beating in our daily drives.

But regular tyre checks are a must. Without proper tyre maintenance, you may already be driving on bald tyres and not even know it, putting yourself - and other drivers - in danger.

To help you avoid this risk, Tyroola teaches you how to spot a bald tyre, what causes tyre balding, the potential dangers, and the immediate action you should take.

 

What Does a Bald Tyre Look Like?

Even the most durable tyres wear down over time. Driving creates friction that naturally erodes the tread—or the rubber part of your tyre that touches the ground—bit by bit. Adding more kilometres to your odometer will inevitably lessen your tread depth.

Bad driving habits and poor vehicle maintenance also cause premature tyre wear. But when wear goes down deep, you end up with a bald tyre, compromising your safety.

Here are the signs to watch out for:

 

• Minimal Or Zero Tread Left

Take a closer look at your tyre. Do you see the raised rubber blocks, grooves and slits on its surface? These make up the tread pattern, which allows your tyre to brake, grip, and stabilise your ride efficiently. If the pattern is no longer distinguishable and you see a smooth tread, you have a bald tyre.

 

• Tread at the Same Level as the TWI

In Australia, the legal tread depth for tyres is 1.6 millimetres, and driving on tyres with less than this value means you're breaking the law. To ensure that you stay compliant, use your tyre's tread wear indicators (TWI), which are bars or narrow elevated rubber segments spread across its main grooves. Usually, these wear bars are indicated by their initials TWI. When the tread is at your TWI's level, it's time to replace your tyre.

 

• Tread That Doesn't Reach the Platypus bill

You can also check manually by inserting an Australian 20c coin into the grooves. Does the tread reach the bill of the platypus? If yes, your tread depth is still good. But if your tread doesn't even graze the bill, you MUST buy new tyres. You can also use a tread depth gauge available in auto parts shops for more accurate measurements.

Also read: How To Make Sure Your Tyre's Tread Depth Is NOT Illegal.

 

Why is Tread Depth Important?

With just about everyone raising red flags and warning against using bald tyres with little or no tread left, you may wonder just how essential tread depth is to your safety.

When your tyre has a sufficient amount of tread, it can guarantee a safe and stable ride by:

 

 

• Boosting traction, letting your vehicle roll on a variety of surfaces.
• Draining water out, enhancing grip in wet conditions.
• Facilitating responsive steering, acceleration, and braking.
• Helping you make quick turns smoothly.

 

 

 

Why Should I Avoid Driving on Bald Tyres?

Bald tyres put you and everyone else on the road at risk. How? Let Tyroola count the ways:

 

1. Hydroplaning

When your tyres have worn-out tread, they can no longer grip the road effectively. Imagine driving smooth-surfaced tyres on a wet road; your car will be slipping and sliding because the tread won't be able to "bite" the terrain. This results in hydroplaning,

which happens when your tyres skid on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces, robbing you of control over your vehicle.

Also read: What is Hydroplaning And What Can You Do To Prevent It?

 

2. Higher Risk of Tyre Punctures

Tread grooves help protect your tyre from sharp road debris. A bald tyre can get easily punctured, potentially causing blowouts, loss of control, and accidents.

 

3. Air Pressure Loss

A bald tyre will likely lose more air than one with excellent tread depth. Once tyre pressure drops, you're in for more trouble, such as reduced grip, less responsive steering, and inefficient braking.

Also read: Tyre Pressure: A Complete Guide

 

4. Increased Braking Time

All drivers know the importance of short braking distances. Quick braking can prevent accidents when a stray animal suddenly appears in front of your car or when a vehicle cuts you off. Because they can't grip the road, bald tyres make it difficult for your vehicle to stop when you step on the brakes.

 

5. Overheating

Tread grooves let air flow freely on the tyre's surface, preventing heat build-up while driving. A smooth tread inhibits airflow, allowing the rubber to get heated and expand, leading to tyre blowouts.

 

6. More Fuel Consumption

Bald tyres create more road friction, equating to increased rolling resistance or the forces that keep your tyre from moving forward. So, the more energy your vehicle exerts to keep going, the more fuel it uses up, which means fewer savings.

Also read: 8 Ways You Can Save on Gas With the Right Tyres

 

7. It's Illegal

Driving on bald tyres is against the law, pure and simple. If you didn't know, then you're one of the 40% of Aussies who, according to the Australian Road Safety Foundation, are unaware of legal tyre standards. You can get fined or get criminal charges for using bald tyres. Check your state laws for specific penalties.

 

How Can I Prevent Bald Tyres?

Though you can't avoid tread wear, you shouldn't neglect your tyres to the point of baldness. Proper tyre and vehicle maintenance is always crucial to long tyre life and your safety. Here are some tyre care tips.

 

• Inflate tyres properly.

Your tyres can carry the weight of your vehicle and passengers, thanks to the air inside them. Overinflation and underinflation cause tyre stress. A tyre with less air pressure doesn't equally perform compared to other tyres in making road contact and bearing weight, causing the underinflated one to degrade faster.

Also read: Tyre Load Rating & Tyre Speed Rating

 

• Conduct Tyre Rotation and Balancing and Wheel Alignment.

Because front tyres typically wear out faster, rotating or switching them with your rear tyres ensures even tyre wear. In balancing, technicians may apply tyre weights to stabilise all the wheels. Meanwhile, alignment adjusts the wheels' angles to make them point in the proper direction. All these measures give you a smooth ride while protecting your tyres.

Book front wheel alignment services with Tyroola today! Take advantage of our Repair Now, Pay Later scheme, and we'll connect you with professional mechanics today near you.

 

• Fix suspension.

A broken suspension misaligns your wheels, causing uneven tyre wear. Also, malfunctioning shock absorbers result in tyre bounce, making parts of your tyres go bald.

 

What Do I Do With a Bald Tyre?

Bald tyres are illegal and dangerous to drive on, so the only thing you can do is to change them!

At Tyroola, you can browse through a wide range of premium, mid-range, and budget tyres that suit your driving needs and budget. Enter your rego or tyre size to find tyres compatible with your vehicle at the cheapest prices online. Then sit back, relax and wait for your tyres to be shipped to a fitting station near you.

With new tyres, you can drive easy, knowing that you, your passengers, and the motorists around you are safe.

Check out our blog and guides for more tyre tips and tricks.