Tyre care and maintenence

Source: Sunday Star May 7, 2006

Tyre care and maintenance


Proper tyre care and maintenance are vital. Did you know that your car’s whole load is carried only by four contact areas, each about the size of your palm? And, did you know that incorrectly inflated tyres are dangerous?

For a safer and more comfortable ride, less premature tyre wear as well as lower fuel consumption, it is necessary that you take care of those tyres and have them maintained regularly.

Tyre Pressure

Incorrect tyre inflation can cause significant loss of steering precision, making the vehicle unstable especially when cornering. This not only compromises the comfort of the drive and ride, it actually endangers the lives of the driver and passengers.

Under-inflated tyres may cause the tyre to unseat from the rim, resulting in a dramatic loss of control of the vehicle. The main risk of an under-inflated tyre is that it may burst on the road, resulting in your losing control of your vehicle!

Over-inflation of tyres is also unsafe as it reduces the tyre’s contact with the road surface, resulting in lesser grip and thus threatening your safety. Also, the tyre is more easily damaged when travelling over potholes or debris on the road.

Look at your tyres every time you get into the car, do pay special attention to the passenger-side rear tyre because this tyre tends to be forgotten in our day-to-day use of the car.

You see the ones on the driver side every time you get into the car, you “feel” the front tyres via the steering wheel, whereas you will only see the passenger-side rear tyres if you go looking for them.

If they are under-inflated, the tyre is worn on both shoulders; this is also called “domed” wear.

If they are over-inflated tyre, the tyre is worn in the centre, therefore called “centre” wear.

For a more accurate measure, check the tyre pressure at the petrol station at least once a month. Do so at the beginning of the day, when the tyres have not yet heated up through driving.

The correct inflation pressures based on the original tyre size (including the spare) are listed on a vehicle placard. Some manufacturers also list the original tyre pressure in the vehicle owner's manual.

The placard can be found at:

·Driver-side door or doorjamb;

·Glove box or counsel door;

·Fuel filler door; or

·Engine compartment.

And did you know that tyre inflation is perhaps the most important factor for economical motoring? Incorrect inflation can increase fuel consumption by up to 5%! And, the tyres will wear out unevenly thus shortening the tyre’s life span. Tyre tread life alone can be reduced by as much as 25%!

Cleaning and inspection

Cleaning tyres removes foreign substances from the tyre surface that can degrade them. Just use soap and water.

Check your tyres at least once a month for uneven wear and foreign objects wedged in the tread. Always look for bulges, cracks, cuts, penetrations and abnormal tyre wear, particularly on the edges of the tread.

A tyre that needs more air all the time should be taken off the vehicle and checked thoroughly.

Repairs

It’s a professional’s job! To fully assess what type of repairs are required, tyres MUST be completely removed from the wheel rim, regardless of the apparent damage (or lack of) from the outside. Certain damage is only visible inside the tyre.

Plug-only repairs done on the wheel are considered improper and therefore, not recommended. Such repairs are unreliable and can cause further damage to the tyre.

However, before you decide to repair your tyre, consider how worn it is. This is because it may actually be more cost effective to replace it.

Changing tyres

1.6mm is the minimum legal tread depth that indicates that the tyre needs to be changed. Tread Wear Indicators are set at this depth and moulded into the base of the tread grooves.

Michelin tyres have Bib (Michelin’s mascot) tread wear indicators on the shoulder, other manufacturers use the letters “TWI.”

Using worn tyres increases the likelihood of tyre failure. In wet conditions, it can cause the tyre to loose traction completely. Clearly, worn tyres are a huge risk to your life.

New or the least worn tyres should be fitted to the rear. This will ensure that vehicle stability is maintained when braking and cornering, especially on wet or slippery roads. It will also provide additional protection against the effects of a sudden deflation.

Don’t forget the valve! This should be changed every time a new tyre is fitted, or if the tyre is removed for repair of examination and the valve has been in place for a considerable period.

Valves play a very important role in keeping the tyre airtight, its long service life and also vehicle safety.

Rotation

Tyres last longer when tyre wear is uniform. Think of the soles of your shoes, if one side of the sole is more worn out than the others, chances are you’ll have to replace them sooner.

For tyres, there is a way around this: by rotating them regularly. This is especially important in tropical countries and for urban use. If no rotation period is specified, the tyres should be rotated every 7,000km.

Wheel balancing and alignment

Wheel balancing is necessary for eliminating vibrations. Unbalanced tyres can cause the vehicle to shake from side to side or hop up and down. It also leads to premature wearing of the suspension and steering components, rotating parts and tyres.

Incorrect alignment can cause rapid, irregular tyre wear and can affect the handling and safety of the vehicle. The problem is you will probably not notice this while driving, only careful and regular examination of the tyres will reveal incorrect alignment.

Remember, your tyres are the only link between your car and the road, take good care of them and they will take good care of you in return!

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