Tyre Maintenance and Replacement.

 Tyre wear depends on multiple factors, including weather, road conditions, and an individual’s driving style, amongst others. Thus, instead of replacing tyres using a time- or distance-based scale, the key determining factor that decides if a tyre should be replaced is in fact, tread depth. When replacing your tyres, it’s a good idea to have all four tyres replaced at the same time. This eliminates any differences in grip between the new and semi-worn tyres, which may result in suboptimal handling characteristics that might cause an accident. If it’s unavoidable that you need to replace only two tyres, put the new tyres on the rear wheels for better traction and stability.

In addition, unless the tyre is unused and stored in a dry location away from sunlight and heat, they will begin to age and oxidise. Oxidisation occurs when oxygen reacts with the compounds in the rubber, causing them to harden and become brittle with age. It’s thus recommended that you replace tyres older than ten years old, even if they seem perfectly serviceable. As they get stiff and get brittle, tiny cracks that are barely visible might have formed on the tread and sidewall of the tyre, meaning that grip may be significantly reduced.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring System cannot alert you when it’s time for new tyres. The purpose of a TPMS is to alert you when your tyre pressure goes below a pre-set limit, which could create unsafe driving conditions. If your TPMS light is illuminated, it simply means that the system has detected that your tyres could be underinflated or leaking air, and not because they’re due for replacement. Your tyres have an air pressure specification. If they are over or underinflated your tyres will suffer, as your gas mileage and driving maneuverability.

A quality tyre air pressure gauge is all you need to inspect your tyre air pressure. The pressure gauge will allow you to measure the pounds per square inch (PSI) of each of your tyres and make sure they are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Most passenger car tyres should have between 32 and 35 psi pressure when they are cold. By maintaining the correct tyre pressure, you will ensure better fuel economy, and your vehicle will be a much safer and more comfortable driving machine.

You should never try to visually estimate the inflation pressure of your tyres. Always use a tyre pressure gauge. Weather temperatures affect your tyre pressure. Cold weather will cause tyre air pressure to drop, while warm weather will cause tyre pressure to increase. You should check your tyre pressure periodically as part of good vehicle maintenance. It is especially important to check it when the seasons change. Many modern vehicles come equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). An icon on your dashboard will alert you if the system has detected changes in the tyre air pressure.

Overinflated tyres become rigid and stiff, causing the tyre’s contact patch, the amount of rubber that touches the road, to be reduced. This leads to a less comfortable ride, as well as uneven tread wear. Underinflated tyres have adverse effects, as well. Underinflated tyres do not hold their shape and are flatter to the ground. This causes the shoulders of the tyre to wear prematurely. Take care of your tyres, and they will take care of you.