Pay Monthly Tyres0% interest, no credit check. Spread the cost.· WhatsApp your reg ›

24/7 Emergency Mobile Tyre Fitting · Approved by the AA & RAC

Tyre advice · Checklist

How to check your tyres in 5 minutes

A simple monthly tyre check anyone can do on the driveway — no tools beyond a 20p coin.

Updated 3 August 20265 min readBy the YourNewTyres team
Quick answer

Check your tyres monthly in five minutes: tread (20p test), pressures (all four, cold), sidewalls for cuts or bulges, uneven wear across the tread, and the age via the DOT code. No tools needed beyond a coin. If anything looks off, get it checked before it leaves you stranded.

No call-out fee · Fitted at home, work or the roadside · 7 days a week

You don't need to be a mechanic to spot a tyre problem before it leaves you stranded. Five minutes on the driveway once a month can save you a breakdown, an MOT fail, or worse. Here's a simple tyre check anyone can do — no tools required beyond a 20p coin.

Do this monthly and before any long trip. If anything looks off, don't ignore it — we can come to you and sort it.

The 5-minute tyre check

Five quick checks

1
Tread depth

Pop a 20p coin in the grooves. If you can see the coin's outer band, your tread is low — get it checked.

2
Tyre pressure

Check all four cold against your handbook or the door-shut sticker. Low pressure wears tyres and costs fuel.

3
Cuts & bulges

Run your eye and hand over each sidewall. Any bulge, cut or lump means replace it — it's a blowout risk.

4. Check for uneven wear

Look across the width of the tread. Worn more on one edge than the other usually points to a wheel alignment problem; worn in the middle or both edges can mean wrong pressures. Even wear = happy tyres.

5. Check the age

Even with good tread, rubber perishes. Find the four-digit DOT code on the sidewall — the last two digits are the year. Tyres over about 5 years old are worth checking, and most are replaced by 10 years. See when to replace your tyres.

Don't forget the spare

If your car has a spare, check that too — there's nothing worse than a flat spare when you need it. Many newer cars have a repair kit instead, which is exactly why a mobile fitter is handy if you get caught out.

5min
Monthly check
20p
The only tool you need
1.6mm
Legal minimum tread
24/7
If you spot trouble

Spotted a problem?

If your check turns up low tread, damage or a slow puncture, don't put it off. Send us your reg and we'll come to your home, work or the roadside and sort it — a repair if we can, a new tyre if we can't, with no call-out fee. See what it costs or the areas we cover.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check my tyres myself?
Once a month, check five things: tread depth (20p test), pressures (all four, cold), sidewalls for cuts or bulges, uneven wear across the tread, and the age via the DOT code. It takes about five minutes and needs no tools.
How do I check tyre tread with a 20p coin?
Put a 20p coin into the main tread grooves. If the outer band of the coin is hidden, your tread is likely legal. If you can see the outer band, it is getting low and should be checked.
How often should I check my tyres?
Once a month and before any long journey. Regular checks catch low tread, punctures and damage before they leave you stranded.
What does uneven tyre wear mean?
Wear on one edge often means a wheel alignment issue; wear in the centre or both edges can mean incorrect pressures. Either is worth getting checked.
How do I find the age of my tyres?
Look for the four-digit DOT code on the sidewall — the last two digits are the year of manufacture. Rubber perishes over time, so check tyres from around 5 years old.
What should I do if I spot a problem?
Do not ignore it. Send us your reg and we will come to your home, work or the roadside to repair or replace the tyre, with no call-out fee.

Need tyres today? We will come to you.

Send your reg for a fixed price — fitted at home, work or the roadside.

YT
The YourNewTyres teamMobile tyre fitters across the North West & North Wales
← Previous article7 Tyre Myths That Could Be Costing You MoneyNext article →What Tyre Pressure Should My Car Be?

Get in touch

Call, message or send us a note — our mobile tyre teams are on the road 24/7 across the North West & North Wales. No call-out fee, fixed prices, Pay Monthly available.

Send us a message

We’ll get straight back to you — or call 0300 124 6981 for an instant quote.
Scroll to Top
Call now WhatsApp