Tyres squeal when the rubber slips against the road, so an occasional chirp from hard cornering or a polished car-park floor is perfectly normal. What's worth investigating is persistent squealing in ordinary, gentle corners, which usually points to under-inflation, poor alignment or worn tyres. Start with pressures, then alignment, and have the tyres checked if grip feels reduced.
When squealing is normal
Some squeal is just physics. Cornering hard, pulling away briskly, or driving on the smooth, sealed surface of a multi-storey car park can all make tyres chirp even when everything's fine. If it only happens when you push on, or on shiny surfaces, there's usually nothing wrong. The concern is squealing during everyday, unhurried driving.
Under-inflation
A soft tyre flexes and rolls onto its shoulder in corners, which makes it squeal and wears the edges. Under-inflation is the most common and most fixable cause, so check and set your pressures first. It's also a safety issue, because an under-inflated tyre grips and brakes less well, so this one check is always worth doing.
Alignment scrub
If pressures are correct and the squealing continues, the tyres may be scrubbing because of alignment that's out. When the wheels aren't pointing quite true, the tyres drag slightly sideways as they roll, which squeals on turns and wears one edge, see uneven wear. This often follows a pothole or kerb knock.
Worn tyres and lost grip
Worn tyres have less grip, so they reach the point of slipping, and squealing, sooner than fresh ones. If the squeal comes with a general feeling of reduced grip, or the tread is getting low on the 20p test, the tyres themselves may be due for replacement. Don't wait for the legal limit if grip already feels down.
Get it checked
We can check pressures, inspect for uneven wear and alignment scrub, and replace worn tyres at your home or work across the UK. Book a check.
