Tyres are one of the most important components of any car or vehicle.
However many drivers overlook the fact that its very important to check their tyres regularly.
They are one of the 2 major safety elements on a car.
So we have decided to show people a few simple things they can be done to make sure their tyres stay in good condition.
They are :
- Check the pressure regularly
Your tyre pressures can be checked with your own tyre pump or at your local petrol station. The rule is to do this when your tyres are cold to achieve an accurate reading.
If you do not know what your tyre pressure should be you can find them in the owner’s manual for optimum settings under certain circumstances.
Also often you may find a label with the pressure settings on the inside of the cars frame.
Running a car with incorrect tyre pressure can cause a problem in the car’s steering, handling, braking and will also impact the economy of the car or vehicle.
For example tyres that are under or over inflated can increase the fuel consumption at the same time increasing the chance of more wear and tear.
The worst scenario of having the wrong tyre pressure is a blowout, which can cause you to lose control of your car.
To avoid putting yourself at any risk you should check your tryres regularly each month.
You should also check the pressure before long journeys or if your car is carrying a heavier load than usual.
- Make sure the tyre has the legal amount of tread
The legal tyre tread depth for cars in the UK and Europe is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre, according to law.
The tread must meet this minimum requirement across its complete circumference.
Tyre treads affects the performance of your car and its safety, especially when driving in poor weather conditions.
Remember, driving a car with tyres below this limit is not only illegal but very dangerous and if kept on the car it will fail its MOT test.
- Check any damage to the tyre or unusual wear and tear
You as the driver can check your tyres anytime by inspecting them looking for any unusual wear or damage.
This is looking for things like slashes, bulges or any actual punctures to the tyres.
If you notice any of these you take you car immediately to a mechanic who will inspect them and advise what can be done.
Some tyre punctures can be repaired but some cannot be repaired.
Punctures while driving will mean you need to replace that tyte with the spare and go to the nearest garage to be inspected. Spare tyres are designed only for temporary use and should be swapped
with a regular one as soon as possible.
- Keep your wheels aligned
Mis alignment of your cars wheel can create problems for your tyres. It can cause over time uneven wear of the tyres, which can in turn weaken them which increases the chance of damage to them.
Mis aligned tyres can cause problems with steering which can be dangerous so should be checked immediately. - Don’t overload your car on journeys
Overloading a car or vehicle carrying a lot of weight can cause problems with steering and handling in general and can cause excessive wear on the tyres.
Putting more pressure on the tyre than it should can also cause a tyre blowout.
Check the recommeded tyre load by looking at this information marked on the tyre.
Your car should not exceed that recommended amount.
- Be careful when having to mount the kerb
When pulling up to park on a street sometimes you may have to mount the kerb. However be careful when you doing this because mounting the kerb can cause the tyre’s sidewall to become pinched between the kerb and the wheel,
this can weaken it and potentially cause a blow out. - Drive well at all times
By driving smoothly this will always help your tyres. A lot of braking or stop starting stopping can have an adverse effect on your tyres and
cause them wear more quickly. Avoiding hazards on the road like potholes and always slow down when going over humps in the road. Otherwise these can cause mis alignment problems.
If you think you have any problem with your tyres call into us, we will them out for you at Spa Motors in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.