Proper vehicle maintenance is vital for prolonging the life of your automobile and making sure that it is in the best condition at all times. There are a few different areas to focus on with vehicle maintenance, but none more important than the tyres. Knowing how to look after your vehicle’s tyres will not only prolong their life but also ensure that you are driving safely and efficiently.
So, what should you be doing to look after your automobile’s tyres?
Keeping Them Topped Up
First, you need to make sure that your tyres are always inflated to the recommended pressure – you can find out what this is in the owner’s manual. Tyres that are inflated to the right level will help with efficiency and avoid damaging both the tyres and the car. Keep in mind that the pressure can drop, so you will need to top up periodically and you should always check before setting off on a long drive.
Tread Depth
It is important to check the tread depth on your tyres regularly not only because the legal minimum is 1.6mm but also because it is dangerous to drive on tyres that do not have enough tread depth. 1.6mm is the legal minimum, but experts actually state that it would be intelligent to change your tyres at 3mm. You should always buy tyres from a specialist so that you can find the right tyres for your particular automobile.
Examination
When checking the tread depth, this is also a good time to examine each tyre (not forgetting the spare) for any signs of damage, such as bulges, splits, blisters and cracks.
Knowledge of Tyres
You should also have knowledge of the tyres that your car uses and what the average life expectancy is as well as limits in mileage. You should keep this knowledge in mind and try to replace your tyres before they are past their best.
Rotation
Rotating your tyres is another smart tyre maintenance tip as this will help to maintain even tread wear and prolong the life of your tyres. Typically, you should rotate the tyres every 6,000 to 8,000 miles and some places will even offer a free tire rotation service if you do not want to do it yourself.
Do Not Leave the Car Unused
It may not seem like it would do damage, but it is actually harmful to leave an automobile unused for too long. This can actually damage a few areas, including the tyres as remaining stationery for prolonged periods can have an impact on the structure of the tyres. This is why you should take the car out for a drive once every fortnight at the very least which will also be helpful for the battery and other components.
These are the main steps that you need to look after your tyres. In addition to prolonging their life, this will also help you to keep the car in good condition, drive safely and could even save you money on your fuel bill and maintenance costs.
