Tyre Care – What Every Car Owner Must Know

Some people pay attention to their tyres only when they have a flat tyre or worse, a close call or an accident. Tyre care is essential for safety, comfort, reliability and fuel efficiency of your vehicle.

Here are some important tips for tyre safety that every car owner must know.

The Six Essentials Of Tyre Maintenance

1. Tyre pressure

Inflate your tyres to the recommended pressure. Under inflation will damage the tyre and increase fuel consumption. High tyre pressure will make your rides bumpy and increase the risk of a blowout. Check tyre pressure manually even if your car is fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system.

2. Tyre rotation

Rotate tyres after the recommended number of miles. This ensures even wear and makes your tyres last longer.

3. Wheel balancing

Get your wheel balance checked and fixed after recommended mileage intervals. Imbalanced wheels will not rotate symmetrically and will cause vibrations and uneven tyre wear.

4. Wheel alignment

Get the wheel alignment checked periodically. Misaligned wheels will increase tyre wear, cause vibrations and make your car harder to control. Get your wheels checked if you hit the curb, a speed bump or a pothole at high speed to rule out tyre damage and alignment problems.

5. Timely replacement

Replace tyres when they are close to the end of their life. This can depend on age and usage.

6. Safe repairs

Use the services of a reputed tyre repair shop. Incorrect repairs can be dangerous.

Bad Tyres And Slippery Roads Make A Lethal Combination

Always make it a point to check the condition of your tyres before the winter or the rainy season. Faulty tyres may not seem like a big problem at low speeds and good road conditions. But, this can change quickly if the road conditions turn bad. A check is also advisable before long road trips.

You need four times the normal stopping distance on wet roads. Snow and ice can make this a lot worse. In case of a skid, your ability to regain control and avoid obstacles depends on the condition of your tyres and wheels. It could mean a difference between life and death.

Water on the roads can make your tyres lose their grip on the road (hydroplaning) at high speed. The risk of this happening is much greater if your tyres are worn and the tread depth is compromised.

Tyre Repairs

The real damage to a tyre becomes apparent only when it is removed from the rim and inspected. Sometimes, the inside of the tyre will have problems that are not visible from the outside. That’s why you should get your tyres checked if you have a severe pothole hit. The internal damage may remain hidden for months.

All tyre damages are not repairable. Sometimes, replacement becomes necessary to ensure safety. Incorrectly repaired tyres can fail and result in an accident.

If the puncture or damage occurs on the sidewalls, the tyre should be replaced. A repair on the sidewall of the tyre makes it unsafe. Only punctures within the tread area and less than a quarter of an inch in diameter should be repaired.

Replace the tyre if the puncture or damage site is overlapping or very close to a previous repair. In some cases, replacement makes more sense even if a safe repair is possible. If the tyre is near the end of its useful life due to age, damage or wear, it makes little sense to get it repaired.

Always get tyre repairs done at a reputed garage. A good tyre service store or garage will take the tyre off the rim to fully assess the damage. They will not agree to perform unsafe repairs and any repairs performed will not compromise safety.

Tyre Life

Tyres wear out with use and degrade with age. Usage causes treads to wear down and the tread depth will decrease. With age, the rubber deteriorates and problems like dry rot set in. Minute cracks will start appearing on the tyre surface. Such tyres can fail suddenly resulting in loss of control. Both age and usage must be taken into account to determine if a replacement is due.

With typical use, tyres will wear out before age degradation becomes significant. You can assess their condition by checking the tread depth. The age factor will come into play if you use your car sparingly. In this case, go by the tyre life specified by the manufacturer. The age factor is also important for your spare wheel due to lower usage.

Periodic inspection is the best way to ensure tyre safety. Tyre condition is checked during periodic service. If you are looking for car service in Manchester or surronding areas, contact us and we will find the best garage for you. You will get great service at reasonable rates.

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