Tires are the one part of the vehicle that needs constant attention as they act as the connection between the vehicle and the road. Being the point of contact, they are vulnerable to wear and tyre. Worn-out or damaged tyres pose a danger to both you and other road users; hence it is advisable to schedule a regular appointment at the service centre to get them checked.
What is Tire Maintenance?
For safety, improved performance, and durability, you need to check if your tyre has the recommended pressure level, tread depth, balance, and wheel alignment. Visiting the service centre on a regular basis to have the tyres looked at is the basic step in tyre maintenance. Some of the services rendered include tyre rotation to ensure uniform wear out, checking pressure levels using standard tyre pressure gauges, and can also end with a new tyre change in case the old ones are no longer roadworthy.
Importance of tyre maintenance.
Helps with choosing the proper tyre.
Most car manufacturers use specific tyres to ensure safety and durability while on the road. These tyres are customized to the vehicles to support great performance and load capacity. When going for routine tyre maintenance, you need to lock down on these factors. Getting the wrong tyre can pose a significant danger to you and other road users. When visiting the service centre, you are able to get an expert opinion on the best tyre offers for your vehicle.
Proper tyre inflation.
Tire inflation is one of the most important things for tyre maintenance. Having the right pressure level in your tyres will help to improve your handling, fuel efficiency, traction and provide comfort regardless of the terrain. Most vehicle manufactures provide a specific guideline on proper tyre inflation for their models.
These guidelines are based on two principles. The increased pressure reduces rolling resistance, provides higher fuel efficiency, a rougher ride, and little traction, while low pressure provides better traction, poor fuel efficiency, smoother ride, and poor wear. Going for routine maintenance can help you get the right pressure for your tyres, depending on your car needs. You can also refer to the car manufacturer’s manual to determine the correct pressure level.
Helps maintain the tyres in good condition.
As discussed before, tyres provide contact between the vehicle and the road; hence wear easily. Regular maintenance will help check if the tyre is in good condition. Keeping it in good condition means checking for the alignment, tyre balance, and damage to the tyre treads. The standard thread depth for most vehicles is 3/32 of an inch. Any change in this depth could cause the tyre to hydroplane and slide on the road. This can cause you to lose control and crash.
Helps with vehicle tracking.
When you go for tyre maintenance, experts can identify problems such as misalignment. This is usually identified through uneven wear of tyres, something you may not notice unless you are skilled. Alignment is how people can keep their vehicle tracking straight. Uneven wear of the tyres can significantly affect tracking.
With maintenance, you can get the misalignment adjusted. Sportscar owners find themselves with severe cases of wear and misalignment in one part of the tyre. Once the alignment is fixed, you are able to handle the vehicle properly at high speeds.
Helps with tyre balancing.
When the tyres are not properly balanced, it affects the smoothness of the ride as the vibrations can be felt throughout the car and on the steering wheel. Most drivers tend to mistake this problem with alignment problems. If not handled in time, this problem could lead to tread scalloping and noisy tyres. With an expert regularly checking the tyres, this issue can be addressed before further damage is caused to the tyres.
Helps check for damages.
There are damages to the tyres that are impossible to note until it is too late. Some of these damages include a puncture caused by a stone, nails, screws, etc., sidewall damage caused by curbs or bubbles. Bubbles may start occurring due to delamination caused by driving over potholes, bumps, or rugged road surfaces, causing the tyre belt to tear.
It helps to identify the age of the tyres.
After driving for a few thousand miles, 5000 to 10,000 miles, most drivers are encouraged to rotate their tyres or change them entirely. However, before doing that, you may want to determine the age of the tyres. Tire manufacture dates are usually imprinted on the side in an oval shape consisting of four numbers. An example is 1421. The first pair represents the number of the week and the second the year, the 14th week of 2021. If you see cracks on the sidewall, it is advisable to have your mechanic check the born date and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
