Other tips and advice
What are the basics?
There is no way to tell exactly how long a tyre lasts. The lifespan and mileage of a tyre depends on a combination of factors: its design, the driver’s habits, the climate, the road conditions and the care that's put into the tyres.
A few milestones and tips:
1- Keep five years in mind
After five years or more in use, your tyres should be thoroughly inspected at least once per year by a professional.
2- Ten years is a maximum
If the tyres haven't been replaced 10 years after their date of manufacture, as a precaution, Michelin recommends replacing them with new tyres. Even if they appear to be in a usable condition and have not been worn down to the tread wear indicator. This applies to spare tyres as well.
3- Proper care expands a tyre’s lifespan
If you take good care of your tyres' air pressure, tread wear, alignment and so on, you can increase their longevity.
For original equipment: follow the vehicle manufacturer’s tyre replacement recommendations.
How to check the manufacturing date
Look for the DOT number on your sidewall.
What damages tyres?
Physical factors:
- Age
- Wear and damage
Road conditions:
- Potholes, obstacles, kerbs, sharp objects, speed bumps
Climate:
- Extreme temperatures
- Rain, snow and ice
- Oil, grease and other chemicals
- Strong sunlight and ozone
Driving habits:
- Speeding
- Quick starts and emergency braking
- Driving on damaged roads
- Failure to notice a change in handling, noise or vibration
- Failure to consult a professional when something changes
Improper usage:
- Using summer tyres on snow and ice
- Mixing tyre types
- Using wheel and rim sizes that are not compatible
- Fitting tyres that do not have a speed capability and load index at least equal to or higher than those originally specified by the vehicle manufacturer
- Re-inflating a tyre that has been run flat or seriously under inflated
- Using a spare tyre of a different size at speeds in excess of 50 mph
Do I need to change now?
We recommend to replace your tyre if:
- The tread is worn beyond the recommended tread depth levels
- The sidewall is damaged
- Any hole in the tread is greater than 6 mm in diameter
- The bead is damaged or deformed (the bead is the edge of the tyre that sits on the wheel)
1- Inspect your tyre regularly and look for:
- Uneven tread wear
- Shallow tread
- Troublemakers (rocks, nails, etc.)
- Damaged areas
- Damaged valve caps
2- Pay attention to the “feel" of your tyres as you drive.
- A rough ride may indicate tyre damage or excessive wear.
- If you notice vibrations or other disturbances while driving, immediately reduce speed, drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road and stop, and inspect your tyres.
- If a tyre is damaged, deflate it and replace it with your spare. If you do not see any tyre damage and cannot identify the source of the vibration, take the vehicle to a tyre dealer for a thorough inspection.
3- See a professional
- If you see something that you’re not sure about during your inspection, have it examined by your tyre dealer.
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To identify a specific problem
How do I inspect my tyres?
1- Check your air pressure
- It’s quick and can prevent many problems
- Do it once a month
2- Check the tread wear with one of the two methods:
- With a tread depth gauge
- With the tread-wear indicators
3- Inspect your tyres for wear and damage problems
- Check your sidewall for any punctures or bumps and the tread to see if the tyres are wearing evenly
- Be sensitive to any changes in handling or steering
When should I inspect my tyres?
- Once every month
- Before you go on a long road trip.
Next steps :
- Any visible perforation, cut or deformation must be checked thoroughly by a tyre professional.
- Only a tyre professional can tell you if your tyre can be repaired or has to be changed.