BY Aurelia Mbokazi-Kashe
It’s seldom that we gush over car tyres. We don’t look at them that way, not as sexy. While tyres are extremely important to a car, they remain a grudge buy. Tyre care is an essential part of owning a car. When you look after your tyres, they save you money and heartache. Here’s a guide to taking care of your tyres.
The rainy season is fast approaching and we already know that it will wreak havoc on our already damaged roads, further deepening the potholes. Driving on our roads is like a gymkhana simulation, ducking and diving through potholes and other obstacles. These test your driving skills and patience and even result in damage that runs into thousands.
An often neglected part of the car, tyres carry your car in ways that you can never imagine. They are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, and as such, it’s crucial to keep them in good shape. We know that hitting a big pothole can be a life-and-death situation for you and your family.
With extra patience and attention, you can easily remove the headache that comes with faulty tyres.
Check tyre pressure
As a start, you need to check your tyres at least once a month using an accurate tyre pressure gauge. It is advisable to do so when tyres are cool, particularly in the mornings before leaving your home. During this test, ensure that they are properly inflated. Maintaining proper inflation pressure will help your tyres to last longer and stay durable. The recommended level can be found in the owner’s manual.
Your optimal tyre pressure can be found in your vehicle handbook, on the inside of the driver side door or on the inside of your fuel tank flap.
Under inflation reduces load capacity, and leads to heat and mechanical damage to tyres.
Over inflation increases stiffness which may cause an uncomfortable driving experience and generate unwanted vehicle vibration. It also increases the chances of impact damage.
Check for thread
Always check your tyres for wear and ensure that they have a good thread. Also, wet weather accidents may occur from skidding on bald or nearly bald tyres. Excessively worn tyres are also more likely to suffer punctures.
Regulate your driving style
Let’s face it, deep down we admire people who can spin cars and do those intricate doughnuts. But, it wears down tyres and insurance brokers warn against it. Here’s a list of bad habits to avoid:
- Accelerating quickly only to brake harshly
- Not slowing down enough for speed bumps
- Stopping and starting in heavy traffic
- Driving over potholes or uneven road surfaces
- Dragging your brakes while driving downhill
- Avoid excessive tyre spinning e.g when your vehicle is stuck in mud.
No to mixing & matching tyres
Don’t mix tyres of different sizes and types on the same axle, stick to the four tyres of the same type and size specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Familiarise yourself with your insurance terms and condition and the warranty of your tyres to avoid being shocked when you need help.
Do not overload your vehicle
Overloading your vehicle places stress on your tyres and other critical vehicle components. Overloading can also cause poor handling, increased fuel consumption, and may cause tyre damage. Never exceed the maximum load capacity. This also applies to instances when you pull a trailer. Your insurance can refuse to settle your claim when proven that you were at fault.
Don’t skimp on maintenance
Wheel alignment is an often-forgotten aspect of tyre care. Common signs that your wheels are misaligned include:
- Your car is pulling to the left or right slightly as you drive
- Steering wheel is off-centre as you drive straight
- Steering wheel vibrates as you drive
- Steering wheel doesn’t centralise after performing a turn
- Loose handling
- Uneven tyre wear
- Squealing noise from tyres
Maintain vehicle suspension and wheel alignment, balance and rotate your tyres.
Lack of rotation, worn suspension parts, under inflation, over inflation, wheel imbalance, and misalignment can cause vibration or irregular tyre wear. Rotate your tyres according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Even something as small as going over a speed bump can knock your wheel alignment out. So, if you haven’t had a wheel alignment service recently, make sure it’s a part of your next service.
Additional information www.dunloptyres.co.za
