How to Take Care of Your Car’s Tyres

Your car’s tyres, like any other component, need to be properly cared for so that it can perform at its best and last as long as possible. The tyres of your car are especially prone to wear and tear as it is the only part of the car that is in contact with the road, and road terrains changes as you drive which in turn can cause more damage, therefore proper tyre maintenance is vital.

Tread Depth

This is probably considered the most important tip to maintain your tyres. The tyre tread allows your car to grip the terrain and maintain control. If the grooves in the tyres have worn down then your car won’t grip the road as effective as it should. Therefore, it is important that your vehicle meets at least the minimum legal requirement of 1.6mm, and when they reach this minimum limit, it is time to change them. When you do change them ensure that they are not mismatched, as this itself can cause problems to your tyres, resulting in uneven wear and affecting how you handle your vehicle.

Rotation

It is an important part of tyre maintenance to have them regularly rotated. Here, mechanics will take apart each wheel and place them in a different position to ensure they have even tread wear. To do this, you should rotate your tyres every 5,000-7,000 miles, or whatever it says in your owner’s manual based on the model of car.  Whilst carrying this out you should have each tyre inspected to make sure any issues with the tyres are spotted early on.

Air Pressure

Carrying out monthly air pressure checks is important in tyre maintenance. The best way to conduct this is by using a tyre pressure gauge to check the air pressure first thing in the morning, by doing this you will get the most accurate results. You can find your vehicle’s recommended tyre pressure in your owner’s manual. Keeping the tyres at this recommended level is vital as under-inflated tyres can reduce the lifespan of your tyres as well as the fuel efficiency of your car.

Do Not Overload

This may not seem as obvious but it can help with proper tyre maintenance. Every car has a recommended amount of weight it can carry, and this is there for a number of reasons. Overloading your car can cause your tyres to fail, as well as heavily affecting your handling. If there is an occasion where you think you might have to overload your vehicle, you can just spread the load over two trip which would be better for your car’s overall health. At Hatfields we can help you with your tyre maintenance, so contact us for you next service.