subject: Tyre Safety & Saving Tips [print this page] Tyre Safety & Saving Tips Tyre Safety & Saving Tips
Tyre Safety & Saving Tips
Make sure you not only select the right tyres, but also regularly maintain them to ensure they perform at their best.
1. Contact Patch
A big job for a small surface
The part of your tyre that is actually in contact with the road is only about the size of a man's hand. Your safety, comfort and fuel economy depends on that very small surface. It's important because your tyres:
Are the only link between your vehicle and the road
Carry the entire weight of your car, a load of up to 50 times their own weight
Respond to driving inputs such as steering, acceleration and braking from the car to the road surface
Absorb every obstacle on the road
2. Tyre Wear & Tread Depth
A quick & easy safety measure
Make sure to regularly check the tread depth of your tyres and replace them when they are worn. This will guarantee maximum traction and grip, helping you avoid any unpleasant surprises. Your safety depends on a good level of tread depth because:
The tread grooves disperses water from underneath your tyre, helping maintain control
The more tread depth you have remaining on your tyres, the more water you can disperse and therefore reduce the risk of aquaplaning
Correct air pressure as well as regular vehicle maintenance will ensure your tyres perform at their best for the longest possible time
The tread grips to the road, affecting the distance you require for braking
3. Tyre Pressure
Check your tyre pressure every month
Correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your vehicle. It also protects your tyres from premature wear and irreversible damage to the internal construction. Tyre pressure can drop due to small perforations, the natural escape of air through the tyre's components or even from a decrease in ambient temperatures. So it is important to check it once a month, because:
Low pressure increases the risk of damage to your tyres
Excess pressure of 20% can reduce the life of your tyre by up to 10,000 kms
Correct tyre pressure will even save fuel
The recommended tyre pressure can be found:
In the User's Manual of your vehicle
On the labels on the side door beside the driver's seat
In the storage drawer near the driver's seat
On the inside of the fuel flap
But NOT on the tyre. The inflation pressure shown on the tyre sidewall is only the maximum tyre inflation pressure.
4. Balancing
Keep your balance for longer life
Balancing helps prevent premature wear of your tyres and eliminates vibration. It also protects the suspension, steering system and bearings of your vehicle. A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. This will cause:
Uneven and rapid tread wear
Vibration
More stress on front-end parts
Front-end parts to wear prematurely
5. Wheel Alignment
Ensure safety with correctly aligned wheels and axles
It is difficult to tell if your wheels and axles are correctly aligned while driving. But if your vehicle's suspension geometry is incorrect, its road handling may be disrupted and your safety compromised. It's important to ensure correct alignment to:
Get the best road handling
Protect your tyres from irregular and / or rapid wear
Save fuel
6. Rear Tyre
For complete control, fit your new tyres to the rear axle
Rear wheels are not connected to your steering wheel, which makes it extremely difficult to judge their grip while driving. So for your safety, always fit new, or the least worn, tyres to the rear wheel positions to ensure:
Better control in emergency braking or tight corners
Less risk of losing control of your vehicle, especially on wet surfaces
Better road holding, particularly in difficult situations, whether your car is front or rear wheel drive
7. Tyre Valves
Valve caps protect you and your tyres
Valves and their components are ordinarily made of rubber, so they are subject to deterioration over time. Replace them when you buy new tyres. At high speeds, a cracked, deteriorated rubber valve stem can bend from centrifugal force and allow air loss. The valve cap is also important. It is the primary air seal and helps to keep out dust and dirt particles. You should check that your valves and valve caps are in good condition to:
Maintain an airtight seal
Maintain the correct tyre pressure
Ensure longer tyre life
8. Tyre Repairs
The first step to repair a tyre is to call a professional
When a tyre needs to be repaired, it is essential to have an authorised tyre retailer or technician remove the tyre from the wheel and inspect it from the inside. It is absolutely necessary because internal damage is not visible while the tyre is mounted to the wheel. A professional will:
Verify the internal condition of the tyre, detecting any damage not visible on the surface
Ensure the correct methods and materials are used to repair the tyre
Ensure the tyre is refitted correctly, optimising handling and comfort
