Power Wheels Magazine A Notch Above
Maintaining good tyre condition is vital to your safety and upholding the efficiency of your vehicle. Round Trip Tyres has 5 tips for you to ensure your tyres remain in tip-top condition and you can drive knowing you have taken the necessary steps to ensure your tyres are safe to be on the road.
1. Your tyre pressure should be checked at least monthly
Following the government law tyres must be correctly inflated to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification for the load being carried. You should refer to your vehicle’s handbook or owners manual to find the recommended tyre pressures. Even if you have not driven your vehicle an extensive amount over the month you should still check your tyres at least monthly as there is still the possibility of tyres having slow leaks over the weeks. An often neglected and regular mistake is not checking the spare tyre typically located in the undercarriage of your car boot, which also needs to fulfil tyre pressure requirements as per UK law.
Having insufficient tyre pressure can lead to potentially life-threatening situations whilst driving, such as a blowout which can cause you to lose control over your car. In most cases, insufficient tyre inflation will lead to inefficient fuel consumption and increase the possibility of wear and tear damage being inflicted on your tyres.
Checking tyre pressure can be easily checked using your own tyre pressure gauge at your local petrol station when the tyres are cold to receive a valid reading.
2. Avoid overloading your vehicle
It is easy to forget that your vehicle does, in fact, have a weight limit in what it can withhold. Transporting a load which exceeds your vehicle's capacity can lead to tire failure and excessive damage. You can find the weight limit for your particular vehicle in the vehicle's handbook or owners manual.
3. Tyres should be thoroughly inspected regularly, especially before long journeys
It is important that you inspect your tyres before departing for a long journey in your vehicle as small damages, air leaks and cuts can increase in severity over the duration of a long road trip and it is far more convenient for you to inspect damages before heading off. You should inspect your tyres for small objects which may have punctured your tyre such as nails, glass or screws and in the case of one or more of these puncturing the sidewall of your tyre, the tire will need to be completely replaced. Bulges and cracks on your tyre should also be inspected and reviewed by a mechanic before heading off. In the case of one or more of your tires failing during your journey, it is best to call for roadside assistance from a tire professional to help.
4. Install tyres which are fit for your particular vehicle model and avoid mismatching the tyres on each wheel
Installing tyres which are not suitable for your vehicle or having mismatched tires can severely impact the ease of handling of your car and influence wear and tear on your remaining tyres, with other important components of your vehicle. Additionally, if there are poor or mismatched tyres on the rear of your car it could cause a potential spin-out, compromising the safety of you and your passengers. It is best to buy tyres after a consultation from a licensed and qualified tire fitting company in order for you to avoid risking unnecessary damage to your vehicle.
5. Regularly check your tyre tread depth and maintaining good driving habits
Tyre treads have a direct impact on the performance of your car, and your overall vehicle safety and control of your vehicle, which is vital in the case of driving in poor weather conditions. As per the legal requirement and MOT test passing standards, the minimum tread depth should be no less than 1.6mm, or the tyre should be replaced immediately.
The way you drive has a direct impact on your tread depth and overall quality of your tyres. Rapid acceleration, skidding and excessive braking while driving, can cause your tyres to wear more quickly. It is best to allow for enough time for your vehicle to completely stop by breaking gradually and early when you need to stop or slow down. Furthermore, driving with a consistent speed and accelerating smoothly, when necessary, is a better practice. It is also important to always slow down for speed bumps, avoid uneven surfaces and potential hazards on the road e.g. potholes; as approaching without caution can cause your wheels to potentially be knocked out of alignment.
Mounting kerbs can also cause potential damage to your wheels as the manoeuvre can pinch the sidewall between the kerb and wheel, weakening the tyre and increasing chances of tyre failure or blowout. Ideally, you should avoid mounting the kerb, however, if it is completely necessary you should mount slowly and avoid scraping the side of the pavement during the manoeuvre.