Monday, 5 January 2015

10 Critical Tips for Maintaining your Car Tyres


Preparing for your next trip it's important to include a Tyre check, you don't want to have a tyre blow up while traveling with your family!

Also buying tyres for your vehicle is a significant financial investment, so it’s wise to find out how to take care of your tyres so they will last as long as possible,  Correct maintenance of tyres will also  increase safety for yourself, your passengers and the occupants of other vehicles.


It is both illegal and dangerous to drive with non-roadworthy tyres.
Proper maintenance should ensure safer driving and prolong the life of your tyres.

·         Legal tread depth minimum is 1.5mm. it's wise to replace tyres at 2 mm, as wet-weather grip is diminished when there is only a small amount of tread.
·         Check the air pressure at least once a month, or more All tyres slowly deflate over a period of time.the tyre placard. Tyre pressure may need to vary according to driving conditions and load. The tyre placard, fixed in a front door aperture or in another accessible part of your vehicle, specifies the vehicle manufacturer's requirements for wheel and tyre, air pressure, load capacity and speed rating.
·         Ensure caps are fitted to tyre valves to prevent the entry of dust that may allow air to escape.
·         Regularly check tyres for wear such as tears or bruises on sidewalls as well as embedded objects like nails, stones, bulges and if found have the tyre checked by a dealer for internal damage.
·         Have a wheel balance, Regular wheel balances will help to improve your vehicle's control and avoid vibration.
·         alignment performed annually or  if there has been severe impact with a kerb or pothole or when replacing tyres this will maximise the life of your tyres by ensuring your tyres wear evenly..
·         Tyres can be rotated to maximise their life span, but Match the same tyre treads on the same axle. Different brands grip differently which can cause handling problems if mismatched.
·         Ensure tyres do not impact with the kerb when parking.
·         Remember to check the pressure and condition of your spare tyre at the same time.

Tyre maintenance advice
Replacing Your Tyres, ensure tyre replacement occurs as soon as it becomes necessary.
Several factors will impact on the expected lifespan of new and reconditioned tyres, with driving style, proper car maintenance and driving conditions all contributing to their longevity.


Driving style
Sensible driving habits are the best way to preserve your tyres; performing stunts like burnouts, drifting and emergency braking will impact negatively on tyres.

Tyre rotation
Tyres are often moved from one position on the car to another to ensure even wear and tear. Front tyres carry more of the car’s weight and they are part of the transmission and steering so they tend to wear out quicker than the rear tyres, so rotating the tyres can extend their life.
There are four common types of tyre rotation:
a. Cross rotation
b. Straight rotation
c. 5 tyre rotation
d. 4 Wheel drive

Wheel alignment and balance
Wheel alignment is the process of properly aligning the wheels and axles. It ensures that your car handles at its optimum level, increasing safety as well as protecting tyres against premature wear and saving fuel. Wheel balancing balances the wheel and tyres. It protects the bearings and suspension, prevents premature tyre wear and stops vibration. Out of balance wheels, and the vibration they cause, is typically most noticeable when driving at high speeds.


Repair and replacement
If you are in any doubt as to the roadworthiness of your tyres, you should take them to a specialist to check. Specialists can check the internal condition of the tyre as well as the outside, comply with all proper procedures for disassembling, repairing and re-assembling, ensure compliance with all legal and manufacturer’s requirements and ensure the tyre is re-fitted optimally.

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