You’ve most likely just spent in excess of £400 to fit new tyres to you vehicle. That’s a big financial investment, so it makes sense to take good care of them. Follow these tyre maintenance tips to get the most miles out of your tyres.
Key tyre maintenance points for longevity
Proper air inflation is critical for the safety of the tyre and the handling of your vehicle. Over-inflating tyres can causes stress on the sidewall of the tyre and may cause a blow-out during an impact collision or striking a pothole. Over-inflating can also cause a crowning in the centre tyre tread, creating uneven wear in the centre of the tree.
On the other hand, under-inflating tyres also weakens the sidewall of the tyre and won’t support the vehicle properly. On an under-inflated tyre you’d expect to see excessive wear on both outer edges of the tyre. An under-inflated tyre could have a blow-out when hitting a pothole or the vehicle may aquaplane in wet conditions. Each vehicle manufacturer has an infographic installed in every vehicle they make, indicating the proper air inflation for tyres in winter and in summer. Our experts rely on these guidelines from the manufacturer for proper tyre inflation.
We recommend checking your tyre pressure regularly, even if the warning light on the dash isn’t on.
It’s a good habit to perform a visual inspection of tyre condition. Make this part of your monthly tyre maintenance that you can do at home. Bulges or cuts (especially after hitting a pothole or curb) can indicate internal structural problems with the tyre. Left un-repaired, you risk a serious handling issue with the vehicle.
Tyre Balance
Besides proper inflation and regular visual inspections, tyres should always balanced after being mounted to the wheel. Why is balancing done? Because no wheel or tyre is perfectly round. Also, weight distribution in either isn’t perfect. By adding slight weight (in ounces), and spin balancing it’s possible to create a smooth and vibration-free rotation. Tyres that are unbalanced will have a vibration possibly combined with noise, and may become uneven in the tread wear. Unbalanced tyres also negatively affect the suspension of your vehicle, not to mention ride comfort. It’s a good idea to have the balance of your tyres checked at least every 18-24 months, or more often in areas with poor road conditions and potholes.
