It seems unnecessary to understand why car tyres are important because you know it.
Yes, you know that tyres are important for your car, but you might undermine the need for maintaining them. If you do so, it can take a toll on your vehicle apart from eroding the safety.
As such, you should not fall behind in understanding the correct ways of maintaining the tyres. And here are some tips:
Correct Inflation
You should always maintain the correct air pressure of the tyres. Remember, tyres lose pressure, and it can be lesser by around two pounds in a month. So, you should ensure that you check your tyres’ air pressure regularly. And maintain the tyres at the correct pressure–neither under- nor overinflated.
Underinflation can cause worry because it can increase tread wear on the outside edges and generate excessive heat to reduce tyre life. Moreover, underinflated tyres can reduce fuel economy by improving rolling resistance. So your car needs to work hard with soft tyres.
On the other hand, overinflation can also be harmful to the tyre. With too much air pressure, the centre of the tread has to bear the majority of the car’s weight. As a result, the tyres deteriorate faster and undergo uneven wear to shorten their lifespan of the tyres.
You can know the correct air pressure for the tyres from the owner’s manual, on the sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb or in the glove box.
When you buy new tyres, ensure that you fill the air in them up to the correct pressure.
Also, do not fail to check the tyre pressure at least once a month, and use a high-quality air gauge.
Balance and Alignment
You need to balance the tyres align your car correctly. It is necessary to maintain the longevity of the tyre but also the performance of the car. Moreover, it also keeps the car safe.
With unbalanced tyres, the car can vibrate, leading to driver fatigue, premature tyre wear, and unnecessary wear to your vehicle’s suspension.
You need to ensure proper balance to the tyres while mounting on wheels for the first time or after a repair. And ensure to rebalance them at least once a year.
You can regard a car properly aligned when all suspension and steering components are sound, and tyre and wheel assemblies are running straight.
Moreover, proper alignment is necessary for tread wear and precise steering. And a misalignment can occur due to uneven front or rear tyre wear or changes in your vehicle’s handling or steering.
When you keep the tyres balanced and align your vehicle properly, you will get more in tyre mileage, performance and comfort.
Regular Rotation
As the weight of a vehicle is not evenly distributed to all four tyres, you need to do a regular rotation to maintain even tread wear and get good tyre performance.
There are multiple rotation methods. For example, for all-season tyres, you need to move the tyres from the rear axle to the drive axle and cross to opposite sides of the vehicle. The tyres from the drive axle are moved to the rear but stay on the same sides. And, it is also called the “modified X” pattern.
But, the rotation of tyres with a directional design is different. It involves the tyres remaining on the same side of the vehicle, and they are rotated straight forward and straight back. So, according to the best practices, you need to switch all four tyres, both from side-to-side and in axle position.
Moreover, it will help if you check the rotation recommendation in the owner’s manual. If you find no such recommendation, you should rotate the tyres after every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
Remember that the first rotation of the tyres is important, and adjust inflation pressures to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations after every rotation.
Inspect Visually
Your eyes can say a lot about the tyres. For example, when you look at your tyres, you can find out if there are any punctures or damages that necessitate replacement.
So, when you next check your tyres’ air pressure, you should look at the treads for any sharp objects that may have punctured your tyres.
Remember that a slight puncture cannot flatten the tyre immediately, but the cracking and pitting due to more minor punctures can eventually lead to problems while driving your car.
Also, check the wear patterns on the treads. If you see excessive wear, it can be due to underinflation. And, wear to the centre of the tread can indicate overinflation.
You can also see many tyres with tread wear indicator bars moulded into the tread. In such tyres, you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread when the tread is worn down, and then it is time to replace your tyre.
Repairs
You should figure out when to repair or replace the tyre. Remember, you cannot always repair a tyre.
If you find a tyre losing pressure, you should remove it from the wheel for a complete internal inspection to make it is not damaged. It often happens when a car runs even a short distance with a flat tyre, the tyre gets damaged beyond repair. So, the only solution is to replace the tyre.
Usually, trained technicians can repair nail holes or cuts up to 1/4 inch for damages confined to the tread.
But, ensure that you do not repair any sidewall puncture or tyres with tread punctures larger than 1/4 inch and tyres that are worn below 1/16 inch of tread depth.
Importantly, you should hire trained mechanics to repair your car tyres. And ensure that the mechanic inflates the tyres to the proper pressure after repairing them.
It can be a good idea if you refer to a car tyre maintenance guideto know everything about car tyre maintenance.
Conclusion
You need to take the proper care of your car tyres to get a good driving experience and maintain safety.
