An essential part of car maintenance is keeping your tyres in its excellent condition. Know that it is both dangerous and illegal to drive with damaged tyres. When it comes to tyre maintenance, there are plenty of numbers of things you must consider.

Car Tyre Maintenance Tips

Rotation – Tyres are usually moved from one position on the car to another in order to make sure that all of them have even wear and tear. Bear in mind that front tyres carry more of the car’s weight. Also, they tend to wear out at about twice the rate of those at the back. Hence, rotating the tyres can help extend their lifespan. Manufacturers will vary in their recommendations – generally, consider rotating it every 8,000 – 10,000 kms. The common types of tyre rotation are cross rotation, straight rotation, 4 wheel drive and 5 tyre rotation.

Pressure – This is very important for 2 basic reasons. First, a properly inflated tyre will protect against tyre damage. Second, this reduces the possibility that the car will spin out of control. It is highly advised that you check your tyre pressure once a month and always before hitting the road. You must not check the pressure when the tyre is hot because 4-5 PSI will be added to the recommended pressure.

Thread Depth – Thread depth measures the depth over the face of the thread that is in contact with the road. This is very important since it will help remove water between the road and tyre, making sure that the car will remain under control. Over time, tyres wear out. In fact, this can be accelerated by uneven road surfaces, the tyre’s design and driving practices like hard braking and high-speed driving.

Wheel Alignment – This is the process of aligning the wheels and axles properly. This will make sure that your car will efficiently handle its optimum level, enhancing safety, saving fuel and protecting tyres against premature wear and tear.

Wheel Balancing – This will balance the wheel and tyres. It will protect the bearings and suspension; thus, stopping vibration and preventing premature tyre wear. When driving at high speeds, the vibration cause by out of balance wheels is noticeable.

Whenever you are in doubt of the roadworthiness of your tyres, you must take them to a trusted tyre specialist. These experts can check the internal and external condition of the tyre. Moreover, they will check if it complies with all the proper procedures for repairing, disassembling and re-assembling. Most importantly, they will make sure that the tyre is re-fitted optimally.