Your tyres need enough tread to clear water, maintain grip and respond predictably when you brake or steer. South African motorists should inspect all four tyres regularly, measure the main grooves with a proper tread-depth gauge, and replace damaged or worn tyres before they become unsafe. Do not judge a tyre by one spot only.
Information checked: 13 October 2026. This owner guide covers visual checks and measurement; tyre repairs, wheel removal and safety-critical diagnosis belong with a qualified tyre professional.
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Tread is the patterned rubber that touches the road. Its grooves help move water away from the contact patch. As tread becomes shallow, a tyre has less capacity to manage standing water, while irregular wear can point to pressure, alignment, suspension or balance problems.
A legal minimum is not a performance target. Wet-road grip can deteriorate before a tyre reaches the final legal limit, so condition, age, damage, loading and the vehicle maker’s specification all matter.
Many tyres have raised wear bars moulded into the main grooves. When surrounding tread is level with a bar, the tyre has reached that indicator’s threshold. Wear bars are useful, but they do not replace a gauge or full-condition inspection. A tyre can be unsafe because of damage or uneven wear even when another section still looks deep.
These patterns are clues, not a remote diagnosis. Set cold tyre pressure to the vehicle manufacturer’s placard or handbook—not the maximum pressure moulded into the sidewall—and ask a qualified fitment centre to inspect persistent or severe wear.
Do not continue driving normally if you find a bulge, exposed cord, major cut, rapidly falling pressure, severe vibration or tread separating from the casing. Move only if safe and necessary to leave immediate danger; otherwise arrange roadside assistance. A sidewall bulge is not a cosmetic defect and should not be repaired.
Check that every fitted tyre is the correct size and suitable load/speed specification. Record tread readings, inspect manufacturing date codes, and budget for a complete axle pair or set where appropriate. A roadworthy certificate is not a substitute for your own condition check.
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