Should You Wear In New Tyres?

At our South Auckland tyre shop in Pukekohe, we pride ourselves on the quality of our tyres, and the excellent customer service we provide while fitting those tyres. We like to pass on as much advice as we can, as well. It’s important you know how to properly care for your tyres and extend their lifespan, so feel free to ask us for any help we can provide in that area.

One thing we are occasionally asked about new tyres is whether or not they should be worn in. While new tyres will dramatically improve the handling and performance of your vehicle, and make it much safer as a result, the question of road-readiness is an interesting one. It’s probably not a bad idea to give your new tyres a chance to bed themselves in, and here’s why.

When car tyres are made, they’re vulcanised in heating moulds which gives them their shape and form. Removing tyres from these moulds without disrupting the process is a bit tricky – think of it as trying to remove muffins from an old-fashioned muffin tin while they’re still hot. So, manufacturers typically use a lubricant or silicone-based spray to prevent them from sticking to the moulds, making them much easier to remove. This layer might be thin and invisible, but it is still present and will not wear off for a very short while. At this time, the layer can prevent a tiny barrier between the tyre and the road. It won’t take long to get rid of this layer, but some wearing in is probably a good idea.

Furthermore, the moulding process leaves the tyre surface covered with small vent holes, while the surface will be smooth and tread will be stiff. So a period where you drive in your tyres will be very effective as it will give your tyres a chance to settle and reach their intended performance levels.

For these reasons, the first 100 to 200 kilometres on your new tyres should be considered as a wearing in period. This means you should drive at a moderate speed and avoid sharp cornering and harsh braking. You might also want to leave a larger gap than usual to the vehicle in front as you, as your grip and braking properties might take a little while to come up to the standard they’re capable of. Stick to dry roads if you can, and take care to avoid mud and snow if at all possible.

This running in the period will also give you a chance to adjust to your new tyres as a driver. They might be the same make as your old tyres, but you will notice a significant difference in handling and performance while driving, especially if your old tyres were particularly worn. It won’t take very long at all for your new tyres to get up to speed-  but a little caution for the first couple of days certainly won’t hurt them. Contact us if you have any more questions about your new tyres.