Government reports show that less than 29 per cent of vehicle owners inflate there tires to the correct pressure level. A report like this one indicates that the majority of the drivers on the road are putting themselves and others at risk around the clock every day. Proper maintenance of a vehicle is imperative but the tires are a matter of life and death.
Tires should be chosen based on the type of vehicle you drive, how frequently you drive and the kinds of weather conditions you deal with most often. Speaking of weather, tires are impacted by the different temperatures each season, especially harsh winters and summers. Both underinflated and overinflated tires put you at risk.
Here are seven important tips to consider for the proper maintenance of your tire:
TYRES DO NOT LIKE EXTREME HEAT
High temperatures will always increase the internal pressure your vehicle’s tyres. Once this happens, the tyres will automatically expand. When the tyres expand and begin rotating on the very hot asphalt, that’s a disastrous combination. Coupled together, the tyres and asphalt create friction and of course, this causes stress on the tyre. The result of this combination is oftentimes a blown-out tyre. Think about all the pieces of tyre you see along the roadway during the Summer.
Even though it has been proven that heat is one of the biggest factors that affect tyres, many people still do not take heed. Don’t be the one who says if only I knew, because now you know.
ROTATE TYRES
If you’re wondering why rotating the tyres is important, then clearly you haven’t gotten it done and maybe at great risk of an accident. Rotating the tyres, which means putting the front tyres to the rear and vice versa, helps to balance the wear on the tyre treading. This also makes the vehicle give a smoother ride. In other words, the tyres will all wear at the same time. Tyre experts and most owners’ manual recommend that tyres should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. The lower number is preferable if you use your vehicle to travel long distances, and if you transport heavy loads.
PUT NEW TYRES TO THE REAR
Every time you check tyre offers, be mindful that unless you are changing all your tyres at once, you should ALWAYS put new tyres on the back axle. In fact, this is recommended by every tyre dealer and repair shop operators, when you check online or visit a shop. The tyres with the highest treading will help to keep the vehicle stable during harsh weather conditions, especially rainy weather.
It also assists drivers with maintaining control of their vehicle and avoid hydroplaning. Experts say it doesn’t matter what wheel drive vehicle you have, losing traction in the back first can be devastating, so the back tyres are most important.
AGE OF THE TIRE
Many times people drive with the same tyres for years, not remembering that unlike wine and cheese, most things lose their value with age. Majority of tyres lose their usefulness after six years. Once that time passes, they begin to deteriorate. The rubber and other parts get brittle. It doesn’t matter if you do not drive very often; old tyres are still dangerous to drive around on and should be replaced even if the treads look fine.
TIRE PRESSURE
The importance of checking the tyre pressure on a regular basis cannot be emphasized enough. Tyre experts recommend that tyre pressure checks be done at least once per month and before embarking on long road trips. It is better to do the checks in the morning as the pressure is more stabilized.
Do not just randomly inflate your tyres, but strive to keep the tyre pressure at the recommended level. Low pressure will cause tyres to lose traction on wet surfaces. If you want to know how much pressure your tyres need, check for that information in your owner’s manual or on the car door.
TIRE TREAD
Checking the tread depth of your car tyres is just as important as the pressure check. You do not want to end up with a bald or nearly bald tire, because that means you will have absolutely no traction or grip on slippery surfaces. You can test the tread yourself with a coin. If you can see above the head, then your tyre needs to be changed.
RECKLESS DRIVING
Drivers who operate their vehicle aggressively, help their tyres to fail faster. These include: harsh braking, maneuvers, sliding around curves and other stunts. This is more likely too if the tire was already damaged the road condition is bad.
Simply put, checking your tyres very often can save many lives and save money in your pocket.
