It’s important to realise that your tyres are the most important part of your car. You should know how to check them and keep them in tiptop condition and drive to protect your tyres and ultimately save you money. Driving on tyres which are defective is illegal for good reason. Your tyres are the only thing in contact with the road and are responsible for the stability of your vehicle, your braking ability and also your traction in icy or wintery conditions. Having a crash, whether major or minor can put a serious dent in your budget, so take heed of how to protect your tyres and your car.
A word about remoulds!
If you’re on a budget it’s important to purchase tyres which are of sufficient quality. Buying cheap remoulds may save you money in the short-term. Longterm, remoulds can wear quickly, and become dangerous fast. Being old tyres which have new tread added, the remould can part company with the original tyre developing an air pocket between the tread and the original tyre causing instability and can lead to crashes which will adversely affect your insurance.
Drive with care
Hitting a pothole or kerb, may result in damage and can even burst the tyre open damaging the wheel itself which can be extremely costly and will require a new wheel. Even if you don’t burst the tyre, you can still do significant damage to the alloy where it either leaks air around the tyre wall or requires significant balancing to maintain stability.
Buying cheap alloy wheels is also a false economy as these can often have cracks or dents which can mean that the tyre will leak air leading to slow punctures. Some car insurance policies enable you to ensure your car tyres against damage, so it’s worth checking your policy – you will need to pay something extra first, but you will save a lot once something serious happens.
Are your tyres inflated correctly?
If your steering is heavy, it could be that your tyres are not inflated correctly or have a slow puncture. A slow puncture can be caused by a foreign object like a nail embedded in the tyre causing a slow leak via the tyre wall. This needs urgent repair. If your tyres are correctly inflated, there is less chance of foreign objects penetrating. Tyres which are sufficiently inflated will also wear more slowly saving you money.
Under inflation problems
Tyres which are under-inflated will wear the tyre wall due to the weight of the vehicle weakening the tyre wall. This can contribute to a high speed blow out, which can be exceptionally dangerous on a motorway especially. Consult a tyre pressure chart to correctly inflate your tyres. If your tyres are found to be defective, it is possible that it may invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident. Properly inflated tyres will save you money by increasing fuel efficiency.
Simple maintenance tips
If you do high mileage every week, you should take some time every week to check your tyres and wash your car. This will enable you to spot any wear or under inflation to your tyres which may indicate that you have a puncture. Checking the tyre pressure is something you should do on a regular basis to ensure that your tyres are kept in tip top condition. Use a coin to check the depth of tread on your wheels. You can rotate your wheels around to ensure more even wear and prolong their life which will pay off in the long run!
Tyre rotation
A front wheel drive car will wear the front wheels most because they are subject to the power of the car and you will do most of your braking and acceleration mainly on the front tyres. So, it may be worth considering rotating your front tyres with the rear tyres to ensure better wear. A rear wheel drive car will wear the rear tyres more quickly.
Rotating tyres then can improve performance, fuel efficiency and traction. It is recommended that you rotate your tyres every 3-5000 miles. On front wheel drive, rotate tyres on a forward cross pattern. On a rear wheel drive, rotate the tyres on a rearward cross pattern. Rotation will increase the length of the tyre life and your budget!
Wheel alignment
Correctly aligning your wheels can also ensure even wear on your tyres. If your wheels are not balanced and aligned you will you experience juddering from the steering at higher speeds which can contribute to vehicle and tyre wear and tear and greater costs.
Save money and lives!
Defective or under/ over-inflated tyres will cause vehicular instability and may lead to accidents upon heavy braking. Failure to ensure your tyres are roadworthy is dangerous, moreover, if your tyres are under-inflated, you will experience greater drag and traction resulting in higher fuel consumption. Over-inflated tyres can lead to vehicular instability and lack of traction in poor conditions. So always check your car tyres regularly and invest in a set of wheels to save you money in the longterm.