There are enough costs associated with running a car – MOT, servicing, road tax, fuel car insurance – so it’s worth doing what you can to reduce the likelihood of having to shell out on general maintenance. Car tyres can be expensive to replace, especially if you have to do all four at the same time, so knowing how to properly maintain them is essential. Read on for a few ways in which you can keep on top of the situation.
Tyre pressure
It’s incredibly important that you check the pressure of your car tyres to ensure that your car is safe to drive; handling can become unpredictable if your tyres are over-inflated. On the other hand, if the pressure is too low you’ll use more fuel and shorten the lifespan of the tyres. Aim to check your tyre pressure every two weeks or before every long journey if they occur more often than that. If you’re unsure of the correct tyre pressure of your model of car, it’ll be documented in your handbook.
Tread depth
It’s against the law – and unsafe – to drive if the tread depth on just one of your car tyres is too shallow. The law states that car tyres must have a tread depth of “at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference”. Check your tread depth regularly as the performance of tyres will tend to deteriorate well before the 1.6mm limit.
General visual check
It’s also worth doing a general check for general wear or foreign objects stuck between the tread of your tyres. Abnormal bulges or lumps in your tyres could be a sign they they’re on the way out, so it’s best to get them checked by a professional rather than run the risk of a flat tyre in the middle of a journey.
Drive sensibly
It might sound obvious but it’s an important point in relation to your tyres – if you drive in a sensible manner then your tryes will last you a lot longer than if you’re reckless. Fast cornering and hard braking can cause incredible wear on your tyres over a relatively short period of time, so it’s best to take it easy when you’re behind the wheel.
Get expert advice if needs be
Doing your own checks is a great habit to get into but if you’re ever unsure of what you’re doing then get your car along to the local garage for a proper examination. It’s not worth taking the risk; a tyre blowing out while you’re travelling at high speed can be incredibly dangerous, so put your mind at rest by consulting with an expert.
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