There are no clear guidelines for this as it depends on how far you drive and your driving style. A more calm and cautious driving style will result in lower tyre wear. It also depends on whether you drive a petrol-fueled car, electric or a hybrid. The electric and hybrid generally result in higher wear due to higher torque and heavier vehicles. The best is to regularly inspect your tyres for any damages and remove stones that might be stuck in the tread.
As you inspect them on a regular basis, it is quick to also check the tread depth. If you keep a log over the date checked and the tread depth, you can start figuring out when you will reach the 4 mm level when it is time to change to a new set of tyres. Once you are approaching the 4 mm, you can also measure more frequently so that you know when it is time to drive to the tyre service station to purchase a new set and get them changed.
It shouldn’t matter what the timing will be when you reach the 4 mm; you should immediately change, even though you might soon change to winter tyres. During the autumn, you don’t want to drive around with worn-out tyres that have bad properties. This can be quite dangerous, especially as the weather can be challenging during the autumn, so you should have a good set of tyres with good properties.
Low tread depth will result in worse grip, so you are more likely to skid. Your braking distance will also increase, so you will be more likely to be in an accident, as you can’t stop in time. When it is raining or when the road surface is very wet, you are more likely to experience aquaplaning with low tread depth, which is one of the biggest causes of accidents during rain. So make sure to check the tread depth and change tyres as soon as you reach the threshold of 4 mm so that you can continue to drive with good safety properties and the grip and control that you need. If you have a hybrid or an electric car, make sure that you also check if the tyres need to be rotated to even out the wear.
When you change between summer and winter tyres, it is an obvious time to check the tyres. Suppose you let a service station do the change for you. They will be able to give an expert opinion on the condition of your summer tyres as they take them off and then make sure that your winter tyres are in good condition before putting them on. If the summer tyres don´t have sufficient tread for another season, you might want to consider purchasing a new set already now and store the rims with new tyres on them. That will save you stress when the winter is over, as you don´t have to start looking for new tyres when you just want to start enjoying the spring weather.
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