How to check that the tires are new. Tire wear: methods of checking, types of rubber wear. Markings and certificates

Tires are one of the most important elements affecting such characteristics of the car, which are directly related to the safety of its operation. They provide direct adhesion of the wheels to the road surface. The stability and controllability of the car while driving, effective work depends on the condition and degree of wear of the tires. brake system, cross-country ability of the vehicle in various road conditions.

Correct operation and timely replacement of worn-out tires allows to ensure not only reliable operation of the machine, but also the personal safety of the driver, passengers and other participants. road traffic.

Types of tires and their features

The main indicator of tire health is the state of their tread, which is in direct contact with the road surface when the vehicle is moving. It represents the outer layer of rubber in the form of a three-dimensional pattern of various types, the shape and size of which depends on the conditions of their operation.

Depending on the seasonality (season), tires for a car are:

summer;
winter;
all-season.

Height (depth) of the tread of modern summer tires is approximately 6-8mm. Its design is designed to efficiently remove water from the place of contact of tires with the road surface, reducing the possibility of the appearance of the "aquaplaning" effect, which disrupts the adhesion of the wheels to the road surface.

For winter car tires, the tread height is approximately 8-12mm. The main purpose of its design is to increase the reliability of the tire adhesion to the snow or ice road surface. For this, the protector additionally contains special sipes or spikes.

All-season tires can be used at any time of the year due to a special rubber compound that retains its elasticity both at low temperatures and in hot weather.

Tires for cars belong to a separate category. off-road, the tread of which has an increased height of up to 15-20mm and is designed to ensure maximum cross-country ability of the vehicle in off-road conditions.

Major Factors Affecting Tire Wear

The following factors affect tire wear:

total mileage of the vehicle;
constant monitoring of normal tire pressure;
correct camber and toe adjustment;
the use of the appropriate type of tires;
vehicle operating conditions;
the accepted driving style.

In the course of daily operation of the car, there is a natural wear of the tread and a gradual aging of tires. The service life of modern car tires is about 10 years, but they usually need to be replaced after six seasons of use.

Improper wheel alignment and the use of tires that do not correspond to the seasonality of their use lead to accelerated and uneven wear. The use of the car on uneven roads, constant driving in the city cycle and aggressive driving style, characterized by sharp acceleration and deceleration, also contribute to rapid wear.

Methods for determining tire wear

The minimum tread height for summer tires is 1.6mm, for winter tires it is 4mm.

You can determine the degree of tire wear and the need to replace it in the following ways:

Using a special ruler or a caliper with a depth gauge.
With improvised means, for example, a regular 10 kopeck coin, inserting it with an edge into the groove of the tread. If, at the same time, only the rim hides on the coin, then the tire wear is critical and an urgent replacement is required. If the coin hides the ornament, then the winter tire needs a quick replacement, for summer tires wear is considered acceptable. If the inscription "kopecks" overlaps, then everything is in order.
According to the wear indicator, made in the form of a separate protrusion on the tire. If the height of the tread pattern is equal to its height, then a tire replacement is required.
When a special colored layer appears on the tread, signaling the maximum permissible tire wear.

When checking the tread wear, measurements should be taken at several different points around the circumference and width of the tire to determine if it is even. With different values of the height of the tread pattern in different places of the tire surface, it is necessary to check the adjustment of the wheel alignment angles for camber and toe-in.

During a visual inspection of tires, you should also pay attention to the general external condition of the tire, the absence of cracks, cuts, cord breaks and other mechanical damage on its tread and sidewalls. If such defects are found and it is impossible to eliminate them, the tire must be completely replaced, since its further use can lead to emergency situations with serious consequences.

If it is impossible to completely replace tires on the car, first of all, you should install new tires on the driving wheels. In any case, it is necessary to install new tires simultaneously on one axle, so as not to impair the vehicle's handling.

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We have already written how, when inspecting a used car, to check the body geometry, generator, ignition system, battery, engine, chassis. In this article, we will tell you how to check rubber when buying a used car.

Some experts argue that using used tires is like Russian roulette - you have to rely only on a lucky break. And to make the case really happy, you should check the wheels as carefully as possible.

How to check tires when inspecting a car

Tires are the guarantor of road safety. When inspecting a car and used rubber, check the following:

Year of rubber production;
Tire wear;
Tread depth;
Tread repair marks;
The degree of wear of the coupling edges;
The presence of microcracks;
Cuts and marks of tire repair.

Each of the parameters is important in its own way, and therefore ignoring at least one of them can significantly reduce the level of safety on the road.

Year of rubber production

We recommend that you check first. If the tires have served the time allotted to them, further operation does not seem rational. It is not difficult to do this - the date consists of two digits: the week number and the year of manufacture, it is applied to the outside of the rubber. If, when examining the car, it is found that the numbers on each wheel are different, then this indicates a non-simultaneous wheel change. The reason for the replacement, if the service life has not yet approached, should be inquired from the seller.

Tire wear

A visual inspection is sufficient to check tire wear. It is important that tire wear (if any) is uniform over the entire circumference of the wheel. Impaired tire wear can be a sign of imbalance in the wheels, and it also indicates a possible careless driving style of the previous owner, which can cause several more problems during the operation of the car. Increased wear on the outside indicates insufficient pressure in the tire, which should also be checked before a test drive. The operation of such wheels is fraught with the fact that when cornering, the rubber will “hold” the road poorly. If the center section was more prone to wear, prepare for reduced acceleration, handling and braking speeds.

Tread depth

When buying a car, be sure to pay attention to this parameter. Tests show that the permissible tread depth should be at least half of the original - for summer tires it is at least 3 mm (1.6 mm by law, but it would be better to leave a margin), for winter tires - at least 4 mm. It is not difficult to check the depth - in car dealerships you can purchase a special dipstick with marks or use a simple ruler.

Repair traces

When inspecting the tread, it will not be superfluous to check for traces of repair from the inside (on a smooth surface). By themselves, the patches on the tread are not critical, but only if their number does not exceed a couple of pieces per wheel, and their size is a third of the width of the pattern. Otherwise, the operation of the "horse" on such wheels should be abandoned. Pay attention to the nature of the patch - the restored tread pattern (the so-called "grooving") can result in a tire rupture.

The degree of wear of the coupling edges

The tire adheres to the road surface over the entire tread width. Tire edges also have an impact on braking performance. The smaller they become, the less rubber adhesion to the road surface, and, therefore, the risk of driving on wet or slippery surfaces increases. A worn leading edge indicates problems with the car's suspension, which is also worth paying attention to. You can check this part of the tread "by touch" - the problem is present if the teeth on the edges of the tread differ in sharpness.

Presence of microcracks

Microcracks on tires can appear even in conditions of minimal rubber wear and careful storage. The average service life of a rubber is 5 years, but, as a rule, by the end of its life the tire naturally deteriorates. In the presence of small cracks, it is not recommended to exceed the speed in excess of 80 kilometers per hour, otherwise the chances of complete tire wear increase rapidly. Deep cracks appear when the tire delamination is too high. It is highly discouraged to use such rubber.

Tire cuts and marks

Defects in the form of cuts and traces of repair are a clear signal to stay away from the selected used rubber. As a rule, side cuts of a tire are dangerous due to the fact that the repair of such defects is extremely difficult and does not provide a further guarantee of the quality of rubber operation. But, in addition, it is necessary to check and make sure that there are no hidden damages. Deformation of the tire frame in the form of dents and creases can be the result of driving or parking on a flat tire, as well as strong blow... In this case, the end of the service life may come earlier than expected.

Internal delamination of a tire is extremely difficult to detect. A warning can be of various kinds bulges on the inside of the tire. Visible layer breaks are also possible. Check the tire penetration - from pressing with two thumbs, the tire should not deform much, but it will quickly return to its original shape.

These tire and wheel test parameters apply to both summer and winter tires. But, in the cold season, when the car is "re-shod" in winter tires, some more factors should be taken into account.

Buying a car with winter tires

In winter, buying a car on winter tires is considered correct, but another situation is possible, so do not neglect the inspection of the wheels. First of all, you should check what the car is “shod with” - it can be idle for a long time, especially if the transaction takes place in the car market. Winter wheels are divided into two types: studded and frictional.

Studded tires are characterized by the presence of studs. The presence of all or the overwhelming majority of studs is considered ideal and guarantees good grip and, as a result, road safety.
The friction tire is available without studs. It differs from studded rubber - a special composition of rubber, which has adhesion to the road surface like "Velcro". This type is more suitable for an urban environment.

Equally important is the tread depth. It is customary to take the tread depth of new tires as 100%, 0% - unusable, respectively. Minimum permitted tread depth winter tires reaches 4 mm, otherwise - 0%. From the factory, tires are produced in different depths. Keep in mind that if initially the depth reached 8 mm, then 4 mm is not 50% of wear, as some sellers claim.

Checking a used car using Autocode

A good deal will be guaranteed by the vigilance of the buyer. Poor tires in the general good condition of the car is not always a reason to refuse a purchase. If the wear is natural and uniform, and also corresponds to the average service life of tires, the option of purchasing a car should be considered. You can always replace rubber with one that will inspire confidence over time.

So that during the inspection there are no doubts about the history of the purchased car, check the history of the car using the Autocode online service. To get a complete report, you only need the VIN, chassis number or state number of the vehicle of interest.

By driving in unique car numbers, you will receive the following data:

Year of issue;
Number of owners;
True mileage of the car;
Participation of a car in an accident and an indication of the most damaged parts;
Finding a car secured by a bank;
Using the car in a taxi;
Repair work.

Tire wear or other negative factors may be hidden by the seller. So that they do not subsequently lead to malfunctions in other parts of the car, order an on-site Autocode check. A specialist will come to the site at any time and conduct a professional inspection of the vehicle. Checking the car through Autocode will help to make sure that your assumptions are correct or disprove them.

Wheels provide the vehicle with grip on the road surface, transmission of traction and braking efforts... Excessive tire wear has a negative impact on characteristics such as flotation, agility, handling and ride quality, as well as fuel consumption and noise levels. The condition of the tires is one of the most important factors affecting the safety of the vehicle.

The road traffic regulations set the maximum tire wear, which is defined as the height of the tread pattern. This parameter is set for each vehicle category separately:

For passenger cars and trailers, it must exceed 1.6 mm.
The same indicator for winter tires, as well as all-weather (marking "M + S") - not less than 4.0 mm.
Cars used for the carriage of goods - 1.0 mm or more.
For buses - not less than 2.0 mm.

A natural question arises of how to determine tire wear on your own and what signs indicate the unsuitability of tires for further use. Vehicle manufacturers recommend that all wheels be inspected and pressure checked before driving. These simple steps will help you avoid many troubles on the road.

The degree of wear of automobile tires: a method of determination and impact on traffic safety

In the process of movement, the wheel is subjected to significant mechanical loads, which are caused by the following factors:

The weight of the vehicle.
Centrifugal forces from the rotation of the wheel.
Efforts arising from interaction with the coating.

The last factor is decisive, especially in our country, where the state highways in many areas it is far from ideal. In addition to poor-quality coating with a significant number of pits and potholes, increased rubber wear causes:

Wrong selection of tires for the season and speed limit.
Unsatisfactory technical condition of the running gear, suspension, steering mechanism and brake system.
Overloading the vehicle.
Tire pressure mismatch with the set values.
Driving style with frequent and intense acceleration, cornering and braking.
Violation of storage conditions for seasonal rubber and installation technology.

The current traffic regulations explicitly prohibit the use of tires with the following types of damage:

The height of the picture is less than the values provided for this type of vehicle.
An indicator of the degree of wear of the tread of the tire with even wear appeared at the bottom of the groove of the treadmill.
Broken tires: cuts and tears: through, stripping and superficial.
Deformations: Blisters on the sides and the treadmill.
Complete or complete peeling of the tread from the base.

If the tire wear is uneven, the tire wear indicator is checked in two sections. Their appearance indicates the unsuitability of the wheels for further use. The use of such tires may result in loss of control. vehicle, reduced cross-country ability and increased fuel consumption. In case of significant damage to the tire structure, its complete destruction on the go with unpredictable consequences is possible.

The tire wear pattern says a lot about technical condition the vehicle and the driving style of its owner, in particular:

Development of the outer stripes of a treadmill indicates prolonged low pressure driving.
Wear by spots located in different places of the tread directly indicates incorrect wheel balancing and damper damages.
The low tread height in the center of the treadmill indicates the use of tires under increased pressure.
Wear on the inside of a tire or outside indicates a violation of the wheel alignment angles.

The diagonal tread pattern of the treadmill clearly demonstrates the car owner's commitment to an aggressive driving style.

Method for determining the degree of wear of automobile tires

The current traffic rules directly prohibit the operation of vehicles with tires that do not meet the established requirements. How to check tire wear and avoid getting into an unpleasant situation on the road? You can do this yourself, but it is better to contact a specialist. The method for determining the degree of tread wear is as follows:

Measurements are made using a special tool: a depth gauge. It is possible to use a caliper and even improvised means such as a ten-kopeck coin as a template.
The depth of the tread pattern with uniform wear is controlled in a separate area, the area of which is at least 1/12 of the size of the treadmill.
The height of the pattern is determined in the places with the greatest tread development. If there is an edge in the center, then measurements are made along its edge.

In case of uneven wear of car tires, the check is carried out in several sections, the total area of which is equal to the value indicated in the first paragraph. Measurements are made at different points with the highest output, the lowest value is taken into account.

Tread condition monitoring should be entrusted to the tire fitting specialists of our auto technical center, who have extensive experience in carrying out such operations. Wizards will not only establish the possibility of further use of tires, but also point out possible malfunctions car. Consultations on the rules and conditions for seasonal storage of rubber will also be useful.

Tires whose wear exceeds the maximum permissible values significantly reduce the vehicle's handling and can cause a traffic accident. In this case, you should adhere to the rule: erase a tire - replace a pair, while better preserved rubber can be used as a "spare tire".

Today, uniform tire wear is of great importance. If there are clear signs that the tire is wearing unevenly, you should urgently find out the problem, which lies in the wrong movement of the machine.

The main criteria for the wear of studded rubber:

1) The first thing to look at is the tread height. As is known, winter tires have a tread height higher than that of summer tires. However, the wear height limit is used to determine the degree of wear. If it is reached, the tire loses its most basic characteristics for movement. Winter tires have an average tread height of nine to eleven millimeters. The minimum wear height for winter tires is four to six millimeters.

2) If the car has defects in the shock absorber, a seal will be observed around the perimeter of the tread.

3) If there is increased pressure inside the tire, the tread wears out from the middle.

4) If the pressure in the tires is too low, then the shoulder sidewalls will be worn out.

5) When the car is parked for a long time, flattening forms on the tires. If the car owner does not plan to use it in any season, he must remove the tires or install it in such a way that no downward pressure of the body occurs.

6) If the driver brakes sharply, noticeable wear is found in some places of the wheel.

7) If the machine is frequently driven off-road, sharp edges may appear on the front of the wheels.

As a rule, the manufacturer solders rubber pimples into the base of the tread, according to which the level of wear is monitored. When fully worn out, the pimples are abraded to the same level with the protector. And American tires have their own tread wear indicator, designated TWI. It is usually indicated by arrows. They are located around the entire perimeter of the tire at a distance of six to eight centimeters from each other.

When does premature tire wear occur?

1) Insufficient pressure level inside the tire;

2) Excessive load on the car, non-compliance with the load index requirements for a particular car;

3) Incorrect driving of the car;

4) Irregular repair, maintenance of the machine;

5) Failure to comply with the rules for mounting tires;

6) Wheel imbalance;

7) The presence of malfunctions in the steering of the machine and the chassis.

When driving on winter roads, the tire life is significantly reduced, and the degree of wear increases. If, in the process of improper installation, the bead is damaged, then the percentage of tire wear increases by ten percent. If chips and cracks are found on the tread surface of studded rubber, then its wear increases by twenty-five percent. Well, if the carcass is delaminated, then the tire wear is considered one hundred percent.

Typically, the technical process of wear is accompanied by an additional percentage of aging due to operation in terms of service life. If winter tires are used for three seasons, then the degree of wear is ten percent. After five years of active use of winter tires, the wear rate is fifty percent.

And America uses a one dollar coin to determine tire wear. It is inserted into the tread groove with President Washington's head down. If Washington's hair is visible, it's time to replace the tires due to the onset of their wear limit.

In Russia, to check the degree of tire wear, it is checked using a two-ruble coin. For this, the coin is inserted upside down with the eagle's head. If the top of the bird is visible on the surface of the tire, then it can be used further.

Every car owner has a different driving style. The wear of winter tires depends on many factors and various modern methods are used to determine it, including folk ones, invented by the car owners themselves. But there are norms that are dangerous to neglect, since there is a risk not only of getting into an accident, but also of running into trouble from the inspectors who monitor the order on the roads.

Sooner or later, each car owner faces the question of purchasing a new set of tires for his car. However, a new set of tires is not cheap today, and therefore many car owners are trying to find options on how to save money. Someone, in a situation where the budget is limited, chooses new, but cheap tires from not too well-known manufacturers, and someone decides to buy used tires.

Buying used tires, of course, promises significant savings - the price of used tires can be two to three times cheaper than new tires of the same brand. Unfortunately, it is very easy to get screwed when buying used tires. What are the nuances to consider when choosing used tires for a car and how to properly assess their suitability?

Communication with the seller

It is clear that car tires have their own expiration date, after which they can no longer operate normally and will not provide the driver with the necessary level of safety on the road. Rubber and the metal part of the tire structure are constantly exposed to chemical reagents, experience extreme loads and, accordingly, lose their original properties over time. When buying used car tires, the main question is - do the used tires meet the level of wear that is acceptable to you?

Today, on the Internet, in specialized stores and in car markets, there are enough offers for the sale of supported automotive rubber... The best option would be, of course, buying used tires from friends or acquaintances who will not dissemble or hide the history of rubber exploitation. But even close people often simply cannot themselves correctly assess the condition of the tires sold.

It is worth starting the selection and purchase of used car tires by communicating with the seller and clarifying a number of details from him. First of all, you need to inquire about the age of the tires sold. Usually, under the correct storage conditions, rubber can last for five to six years. It is not recommended to buy older rubber, even if it looks good.

An old tire, due to the loss of its original characteristics, will still very quickly deteriorate. In addition, if you buy unnecessarily old used tires, no one will be able to give you a guarantee that it power unit will not collapse suddenly while driving. Bursting a tire at high speed is a huge risk. You can check the production date of each tire during a subsequent visual inspection - it is traditionally indicated on the sidewall. If you buy a set of used tires and the dates of tires from one pair do not coincide with each other, then this indicates that they were operated on different axles or on different cars... In this case, it would be wiser to refuse the purchase, because such a pair is unlikely to serve you for a long time.

It is certainly worth asking the seller about the reasons for selling tires. It may happen that the real reason for selling tires is latent defects, which the seller knows about, but deliberately keeps silent. You should definitely ask him about whether the tires were repaired, whether there were punctures. Supported tires that have had a side cut are not the best option for later use.

Highly important characteristic is also the wear of the tire tread. It indicates the condition of the tire as a whole. It is clear that it makes little sense to buy even very cheap tires, but which have wear already more than 50%. On the contrary, all other things being equal, it is better to choose used tires, which may be more expensive than other options, but have a large residual tread.

Tire inspection and check

When buying used tires, you simply cannot do without professional diagnostics in a tire workshop. You should not rely only on the words of the seller and a cursory examination of the tires, because you should always remember that tires are one of the main guarantees of the stable and safe behavior of the car on the road. Inspection of used tires should begin with a visual inspection to determine the extent and nature of tread wear and to assess the general condition of the rubber.

You need to carefully examine the outside and inside of the tire by removing it from the rim. During this inspection, pay attention to microcracks, deep cuts, various bulges, bumps, as well as the presence of foreign objects in the rubber. Ideally, the rubber should be all solid and smooth. To detect microcracks on the rubber surface that look like subtle cobwebs, it is recommended to take a small office magnifying glass with you. The presence of such microcracks indicates a violation of the storage conditions of tires or that they were actually produced a very long time ago. Tires with micro-cracks on the inside or outside of the sidewalls are very likely to burst when the vehicle is moving at high speed. Accordingly, it is not recommended to purchase such used tires.

If the tire has been punctured, pay close attention to the patches on the back of the tread. In principle, punctures in the tread area are not any critical damage, because they are successfully disposed of with just such small patches. However, if a patch on a tire of a very large size or there are more than two such patches on one tire, then you should refuse to buy rubber. In no case should you buy tires with traces of repair or "treatment" of punctures on its lateral surface. A tire with damage to the side surface is no longer able to ensure the safety of the car on the road.

So, after a visual inspection of a used tire, if everything is good, it is imperative to check it in a tire workshop. There, the tire should be assembled back onto the disc, inflated to a slightly higher pressure than indicated by the instructions, and checked on a balancing machine. No runout should be observed during tire rotation.

Any unevenness in the tire, apparently caused by internal cord damage, creates a static imbalance in the wheel. This is the so-called "hernia", which appears as a result of a serious impact of the wheel on any hard bump in the road. It is almost never possible to find it during a visual inspection of the rubber removed from the disk, therefore, a subsequent check of the tires in a tire workshop is so necessary. Herniated tires are at a very high risk of sudden collapse and are therefore completely unsuitable for use.

The specialists in the tire shop will help you balance the used tires and check them for static imbalance. If, after such a comprehensive check, the tires have shown themselves to be better side(absence of microcracks, deep cuts, beats and “hernias, good condition the outer surface of the rubber), then they should be taken.

Buying used tires is always a risk. Even if you follow all of the above tips, there is no guarantee that the used tires you bought will successfully serve for a sufficiently long period of time. Therefore, before buying used tires, it is worth once again weighing the pros and cons. It is possible that the best option there will still be a purchase of a new set of tires, because tires are essential element traffic safety. But if you are on a budget or just made a firm decision to save money, then be very careful about the process of selecting and checking used tires.