If you’re giving your car a wash or cleaning up the inside, it’s a great time to give your tyres a bit of TLC as well, which will not only make them look better but can also extend their life. Here are a few things you can do during the holidays to keep your tyres in great condition.
Pressure
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is one of the easiest tasks you can do for your car. If the tyres are overinflated, not only do you run the risk of them bursting if you hit bumps or sharp objects, you will also wear out the tyres quicker in the middle of the tread. If the tyres are underinflated, the tyres will wear out on the sides of the tread and could even do damage to the wheel rims. Either way, overinflation or underinflation can lead to an increased risk of accident.
Rotation
Rotating tyres helps to ensure that each tyre will wear at the same rate. Tyres at the front tend to wear out quicker on front-drive vehicles, so the front and back tyres will be rotated. Tyre rotations can be performed around every 10,000km, and while it’s possible to do them at home, it’s often best left to the experts.
Alignment
If you find when you’re driving that your car pulls to one side, that the steering wheel is off-centre or vibrates, the wheels make a high-pitched noise while you drive, or the tread on the tyres is wearing unevenly on one tyre or one side of the car, then it’s likely the wheels need to be re-aligned. Wheel alignment ensures that the tyre tread remains flat on the road, rather than contacting with it on an angle, leading to uneven wear.
Tread
Modern tyres have little pieces of metal embedded in them called tread wear indicators (TWI) which are a very helpful way to know if your tyres need replacing. Once the tyre has worn down to the point where the surface of the tread is level with the TWI, it is time to replace the tyre, as it will have less grip on the road and will increase the risk of skidding and accidents.
Damage
It’s quite quick and easy to check the walls of the tyres that are facing outwards for any signs of damage, such as from hitting kerbs or other objects on the road. It’s a little more difficult to check the tread or the inside walls, as small stones or nails/screws/glass can become embedded, leading to slow leaks or even bursting of the tyres. If you notice that one tyre is losing air faster than others, it may be a sign that there is a puncture.
Replace
If the tread has worn down or there is damage to the tread or the walls of the tyres, then it might be time to replace your tyres. It’s a good idea to replace all four tyres at the same time so that they’re all the same age and have the same level of wear. For all the above services and more, contact Jim’s Mobile Tyres, as we come to you.
