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Most people only check their car’s tyres before taking long trips, but it is equally important to regularly check your tyre pressure and wear during your day-to-day driving. Tyres are one of the most important safety features of a vehicle but will become a massive expense if they are not cared for properly. These tips will help increase the longevity of your vehicle’s tyres and save you money.
Before taking that much-anticipated road trip, you should check the air pressure of your tyres, including the spare tyre. Did you know that the best time to check your tyres’ air pressure is when your tyres are cool? That is, at least two hours after your vehicle has stopped, or before it has been driven for about 1KM, depending on weather conditions.
If your car is pulling to the left or the right, or if your tyres are worn on only one edge, you should have your car’s wheel alignment checked. Poor wheel alignment is a serious safety hazard. Keeping your wheels correctly aligned prevents tyre wear, leads to better fuel consumption by reducing friction, and improves your vehicle’s handling.
If your car is shaking, balancing is a must. An unbalanced wheel does not just cause you an irritation but can also cause mechanical damage to your vehicle. New tyres should be balanced after fitment, and should be balanced between 12,000KM and 15,000KM depending on driving conditions.
There are a few types of spare tyre, including the space saver tyres that are affectionately known as “Marie Biscuit” wheels. Even if you are not using your spare wheel, it is important to check that it is still there, and in good condition and properly inflated. If you are fitting new tyres or having your air pressure checked, use the opportunity to check the pressure and tread of your spare tyre. A spare tyre that is not properly inflated often leaves people stranded on long road trips.
One of the main advantages of space savers is that they are lighter and easier to handle. However, you need to stick to the limit of 50KM/H when driving with a space saver as opposed to a regular spare tyre. It is extremely dangerous to exceed the speed limit with a space saver tyre, especially if the tyre has been under-inflated.
Run flat tyres are more suited to driving in Europe, where the distances between dealers are not that far, but offer you the advantage of being able to drive safely even though the tyre has been compromised. Aside from the generally high cost of run flat tyres, the other drawback is that the tyre must be destroyed after it has run flat. However, a run flat tyre can get you out of a potentially life-threatening situation because you do not have to get out of your vehicle and change the tyre.
Do not begin a long journey if your tyre’s tread is close to 1mm. It is important to note that it is a legal requirement for passenger vehicles to have a tread of at least 1mm. If your tread is less than this, your vehicle is unroadworthy, meaning that you cannot drive it on public roads, and you would be liable for severe fines.
When fitting new tyres, it is highly advisable to run them in by driving at a moderate speed for at least the first 200-300KMs. This roughens the tread surface and enables the tyres to reach their full performance potential. It is always advisable to double-check the air pressure after installation of your new tyres, and to ensure that it conforms to you manufacturer’s recommended air pressure.
Under-inflated tyres will negatively affect your car’s handling, wear out your tyres quicker, and will increase your car’s fuel consumption. Over-inflated tyres will cause premature tyre wear – especially in the middle – and will result in a very harsh ride. It is recommended that you stick to your manufacturer’s recommended air pressure. If you have changed your tyre size, you should inflate it at the pressure recommended by your wheel and tyre experts.
Also, consider filling your tyres with nitrogen rather than air as this will result in cooler-running tyres, which means you would extend your tyre life.
For assistance with all issues relating to your car’s tyres, do not hesitate to bring your car into Pace Auto Services where our team of professional technicians will assess your tyres and provide you with honest feedback and a highly competitive quote. We are based in Marlboro, Sandton.
