Tyres don't come with a simple use-by date — knowing when to replace one means checking three separate things: tread depth, age, and visible damage.
Tread depth
The Australian legal minimum tread depth is 1.5mm, measured across three-quarters of the tyre's width. If you regularly drive in the wet or off-road, it's worth replacing well before you reach that legal minimum — wet-weather grip and off-road traction both drop off noticeably as tread gets shallow, long before a tyre is technically illegal.
Age
Tyres age even if they're barely driven on, as the rubber compound hardens over time. As general guidance, it's worth having any tyre over 5 years old inspected by a professional, and most manufacturers recommend replacing a tyre by around 10 years regardless of remaining tread. This applies just as much to a spare that's rarely used as it does to a tyre in daily service.
Damage signs
Replace a tyre immediately if you see any of the following:
- A sidewall bulge or cracking
- Uneven or patchy wear across the tread
- An embedded object (a screw, nail, or similar)
- Any cut deep enough to expose the internal cords
4WD-specific checks
If you regularly air down for off-road driving, always re-inflate to your vehicle's placard pressure before returning to highway speeds — driving on the road under-inflated causes uneven wear, poor handling, and tyre overheating, all of which shorten a tyre's usable life well before its tread or age would otherwise call for replacement.
If you're ever unsure whether a tyre needs replacing, our team can help you assess it — contact us, or browse replacements sized to your vehicle on our full tyre range.