When it comes to tyres, there’s a lot we can do to look after them. We have to remember that tyre damage is far more commonplace these days, predominantly due to more potholes than ever. These four tyres and underneath our car are critical and can be very expensive to replace. Therefore, let’s show you some of the best ways to look after your tyres.
Inspect the Tread Depth
Legally, the minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, but it’s important to replace tyres before it hits this. There’s always mechanics and helping hands such as 800sayara.com who can help you, but you should also regularly check for tread wear indicators such as raised sections in the grooves and replace the tyres if the tread is worn down. Depending on where you are, you could be fined a huge amount if you neglect this because it is illegal.
Check Your Tyre Pressure Regularly
Maintaining the correct tyre pressures is crucial because it will guarantee optimal performance, safety, as well as fuel efficiency. Under-inflated tyres wear out quicker, reduce the grip on the road, and increase fuel consumption, but over-inflated tyres have a smaller contact patch which means an uneven wear. Check your tyre pressure at least once a month and prior to long journeys, while also following the manufacturer’s recommendations in your owner’s manual. There’s a handy guide on tyre pressure conversions at tyresafe.org just for reference as well.
Clean and Protect Your Tyres
It’s important to preserve the tyres as much as possible to minimise premature ageing and cracking. Mild soap and water can remove dirt, brake dust, and any other contaminants, but you may also want to think about using a tyre dressing or protectants so you can preserve the rubber.
Avoid Harsh Driving
In order to drive better and avoid causing problems or damage to your tyres, you need to remember that aggressive acceleration, hard braking, and excessive speeding can result in premature tyre wear which will increase the risk of tyre failure. Adopting a smoother and consistent driving style will reduce the wear on the tyres. Additionally, do not excessively spin the tyres when you are stuck in the mud or sand. Gentle forward and backward motions can free the vehicle because spinning will cause flat spots and damage the tyre casing. When possible, drive carefully around potholes, debris, and other road hazards that can result in punctures, cuts, or impact damage to the tyres. It’s something that we all try to do but sometimes we’re not paying full attention to the road, meaning that we end up missing something at the last possible second.
Store Tyres Properly
This is particularly important if you have seasonal tyres for the winter. Ensure they are in cool, dry places away from direct sunlight and moisture. Additionally, clean and protect them before the storage and avoid stacking tyres on top of each other.
Our tyres can last a lot longer if we just look after them. There’s so many things to consider but if you want to save money on frequent replacements it’s worth following these rules.
