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Tyre Maintenance
When you think about it tyres are just about the most important component of any vehicle. They're the only part of the car actually in contact with the road surface. If your tyre loses their grip...you can only imagine the consequences.
Why take risks - when its so easy to ensure that your tyres are in good condition
The UK Tyre Maintenace
If your tyres fail to meet the minimum legal requirement, you could be fined £2500 and receive three penalty points for each defective tyre. More importantly, you could be risking a life...The law requires a minimum thread depth of 1.6 mm in the main grooves which are situated in the central three quarters of a tyre.
Why do I need a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm?
The more thread you have, the better the all round performance, particularly the braking capabilities of the vechicle in the wet conditions.Wet grip decrease considerably as tyre thread patterns wear down or a surface water depth increase. a so called 'bald tyre' i.e. where the thread has worn away, can be lethal.
What are tyre tread wear indicators (TWI)?
If you look carefully you will find thread wear indicators in all grooves of the thread which indicates that your tyre is wearing down. The thread wear indicators are located in relation to the appropriate sign on the shoulder of the tyre.
Once the thread wear indicators are levels with the thread, your tyres have approached the legal limit and therefore should be changed. Ideally, change your tyres before the thread wear indicators is reached.
How often should I check the pressure in my tyres?
At least lonce a fortnight and prior to a long journey, but only when the tyres are cold*. Use a reliable pressure gauge and follow the recommended tyre inflation pressures for the vehicle. Refer to your manufactuers handbook.
* Tyres which have not been run on for atleast one hour or have only been run at low speed for not more than one or two miles. Never bleed the air out of warm tyres.
What is the purpose of a tyre valve?
Naturally, you need a valve to let air in and out of a tyre so that the tyre pressure may be kept at the right level. But you might not have known that the valve should be repaced every time your tyre is changed,
since the valve rubber perishes with age.
Why bother to replace valve dust caps?
The valve cap stops dirt getting into the valve and preventing it from working properly. It also ensures air retention.
Does it Matter if my tyres are over or under inflated?
Over inflation results in an uncomfortable ride and faster wear in the centre of the tyre thread. More importantly, it reduces the area of the tyre contact with the road, meaning less grip.
Under inflation is equally as damaging, creating excessive flexing, leading to a general deterioration of the tyre. Incorrect inflation can also affect your braking capabilities and reduce the stability of the vehicle.
It is also illiegal to use a vehicle with incorrect tyre pressures.
What should I look for when buying a tyre?
There are many different patterns of tyre available from tyre manufacturers, and each pattern has certain benefits to match the demands of the driver.
The type of driving you do and your requirements relating to mileage, comfort, stability and spped will dictate the pattern of tyre you require. The type of tyre fitted to your vehicle as origional equipment has undegone rigid testing for all aspects of its performance and suitability to obtain the ultimate perfromance. A tyre is only "homologated" (approved by vehicle manufacturer) after successfully meeting many development stages of each specific model of vehicle.
How long will the tyres last?
Your tyres life depends on how well you maintain them! Mistreated tyres may have a considerably reduced lifespan. The tyres will also be affected by the type of driving (e.g motorway or city), and the mechanical setting of the vehicle.
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