Tyres are one of the most important and most overlooked parts on a modern day vehicle.
They are the main contact your vehicle has with the road and many people fail to realise that tyres require maintenance on a regular basis for them to continue operating at their peak.
Listed here are some top tips to keep your tyres in a good, safe operating condition and improve your tyre life.
Keeping your tyres and the correct pressure is a major part in prolonging tyre life and performance, but is often forgotten, or only checked when the vehicle is serviced.
Keeping your tyres inflated properly not only helps provide maximum contact with the road, but also increases fuel economy and reduces road noise.
Tyre tread is designed to disperse water and improve grip on the road in treacherous conditions.
The design of the tread pattern (also known as ‘blocks’) allows the tyres to grip the road, improving safety and handling even in adverse conditions.
Tyres need to be checked regularly to ensure there is sufficient tread depth left, and to makre sure there are no punctures or visible damage to the tyre.
Finding your tyre size:
Locating the size description on your tyres is a simple process. On the sidewall of your tyres (The side facing outwards - usually will have the brand of the tyre) there will be a sequence of numbers, which will give you the tyre size on your vehicle.
Wheel Alignment and tyre rotation:
The alignment of the vehicle's wheels can dramatically affect the way the vehicle handles , tops and how quickly the tyres wear out.
Having the alignment checked on a laser wheel alignment machine will make sure all the suspension and steering components are in good condition, and will increase the life of your tyres.
Having your tyres rotated and the balance checked at regular intervals will increase the life of the tyres, as it allows the tyres on both the front and the rear of the car to wear evenly and prevent any wheel vibration at higher speeds.
Industry standard recommends tyres be rotated every 5,000km-10,000km and the alignment to be checked every 10,000km, or whenever tyres are replaced.