Tyres are an integral part of the vehicle, probably the most important if you ask me. Therefore, taking care of them to ensure they’re in good condition before every drive is essential. As a driver or vehicle owner, knowing when your car tyres are in bad condition can save your life and that of your passengers. It can be detrimental to ride in a car with low tyre pressure or a car whose tyre treads have worn off. This article will inform you of the best tyre maintenance tips that work on all types of vehicles to ensure your tyres are in excellent condition before every trip or journey.
Know when to replace them
While conducting proper tyre maintenance is key to extending the life of your tyres, it is also a good thing to know when your tyres have served their term and are due for replacement. When your tread depth goes below 1.6 mm, you know your tyres are worn out. Pushing their limit beyond that level is detrimental to your life. Worn-out tyres have a low grip because the threads are worn out. This can cause your vehicle to skid and slip when driving on rainy days.
There are several things to consider when replacing car tyres. First of all, is the state of your current tyres. Next, you can consult your vehicle manufacturer to find out which are the best tyres to install on your vehicle. It is recommended to install tyres that exceed or have the same load capacity for your vehicle. Next, you can buy tyres online to get the best deals on new tyres. It is advisable to buy your tyres in sets from one brand.
Check your pressure
Another way to extend the life of your car tyres is to check their pressure regularly. Especially for drivers that stay in cold areas, tyre pressure can fluctuate due to cold weather. You can spare a few minutes of your day at the gas station to check your tyre pressure and increase or reduce it accordingly. By doing this, you will avoid the risk brought about by under-inflation and over-inflation. Under-inflation can cause your tyre treads to wear off much faster. They could also lead to tyre crashes due to blowouts when driving, so ensure you maintain the correct pressure every time. You can find out your actual pressure value from your vehicle’s manufacturer’s manual.
Do not exceed your vehicle’s maximum carrying capacity.
Every vehicle has a specified maximum carrying capacity. You can find this information from your car manual or on the placard on your car door frame. Exceeding the load limit for your car exerts uneven pressure on your tyres and can lead to tyre failure. Overloading also ruins other parts of your vehicle, such as your shock absorbers, and you will be visiting the repair shop sooner than you expect.
Examine your tyres frequently, especially before long journeys and road trips.
How well do you know your vehicle’s tyres? Do you inspect them before leaving the house every day? It is essential to know what to look for when conducting a tyre inspection in your own garage. Study each wheel and look for cracks or uneven bulges on the tyre surface. You should also check for objects such as nails or glass that could cut and puncture your tyre surface. This is a crucial step because it will allow you to gauge how long your tyres will last according to their condition. You can easily do this when washing your car in the morning or evening. Before leaving on a long trip, ensure you assess your tyres well to avoid inconveniences on the side of the road during your journey.
Install the right tyres at the right time
Tyres are expensive, that’s a given. You may even be tempted to replace worn-out tyres with cheap tyres that aren’t the recommended size for your vehicle. While this may seem to work, you will be doing more harm than good to your vehicle. When replacing tyres on your car, you should also ensure you install the same brand. Mismatched tyres can cause the other tyres to experience uneven wear, and this will cause handling issues for your vehicle.
Rotate your tyres frequently.
For proper maintenance, you need to rotate your tyres every few thousand miles. This will allow the tyres to age uniformly, thus prolonging their life. Most local tyre stores provide free tyre rotation when you buy tyres from them. However, it is cheap to get your tyres rotated at any garage. Rotation prevents tyres from wearing unevenly. The recommended mileage for rotating your tyres is about 6000 miles, but you can rotate after 8,000 miles. You can instruct your service company to do tyre rotation with every oil change to keep track of your tyre’s age.
