Tyres are probably one of the essential parts of your vehicle. They connect your car to the road and maintain the smooth performance of the vehicle. When you drive your vehicle, you expect a relaxing and enjoyable journey. For that to happen, it is of utmost importance to regularly check your tyres. Observe their condition and whether they are capable of meeting all the legal and safety standards.
Tyres are in constant friction with the road and naturally tend to wear down if left unchecked after prolonged use. To maintain a healthy and safe drive, you should aim to protect the lives of your tyres simply by following a few steps. Damaged tyres are not only prone to costly repairs or brand new replacements but they also put you and others on the road at risk of accidents. Also, your vehicle must pass the mandatory MOT Luton three years after registration to determine if it is legally roadworthy and meets environmental standards. Do you know that one of the main reasons many vehicles fail to pass the test is the faulty condition of the tyres?
So how should you keep your tyres in check? How will you ensure that they follow the safety guidelines? Let's have a look!
Checking Tyre Pressure
Checking whether your tyres have the correct pressure or not should be at the top of your list. A lot depends upon the tyre pressure- your vehicle's handling, braking, and mileage limits. Deflated tyres are prone to higher wear and tear and increase fuel consumption that is hazardous for environmental safety. An overloaded vehicle or punctured tyre can also cause deflation. If your tyres are overinflated, the tread might wear down in the center of the tyre.
Incorrect tyre pressure leads to losing car control at high speeds that might result in fatal accidents. You should check the pressure at least once every month. It is also imperative to check your tyres before long journeys or while driving with many passengers.
You can check the tyre pressure from a local petrol station or by using your tyre pressure gauge. Your vehicle manual contains all the information, including the optimum tyre pressure. Once you insert the pressure gauge into the tyre valve, check the pressure reading on the gauge and compare it with the limit in the vehicle manual.
Checking Tread Depth
tyre tread is the rubber on the tyres in friction with the road. Treads are crucial to maintaining the grip and traction, specifically in poor weather conditions. Legally, the minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. If your tyre tread depth is closer to 1.6 mm or falls below the limit, you must change your tyres at once. Most vehicle companies recommend a minimum depth of 3-4 mm.
To check the tread depth, look for the tread wear indicators. They are small bars spaced evenly through the main grooves of the tyres. If the indicators are flush with the level of the tread, that means you need to replace the tyres as they reach the legal limit. You can also measure tread depth using a depth gauge. Insert the probe bar into the grooves of the tyres and push shoulders flush with the tread to get the accurate measure.
Another simple way is to insert a 20 pence into the grooves. If the coin is not visible, it indicates the tyre has legal tread depth. However, if you notice the outer lining of the coin, replace the tyre.
If your tread depth is not adequate or within the legal limit, it becomes harder to tackle the vehicle in wet conditions, and the chances of aquaplaning increase.
Checking any Unusual Damage
From time to time, observe if there is any sign of wear and tear or other damage. Look for cuts, bulges on the tyres. Also, check for sharp glass pieces or nails attached to the tyres that might cause a puncture. If you have any doubt regarding the condition of the tyres, get your tyres checked by a professional mechanic.
Keeping the Wheels Aligned
Misaligned wheels result in uneven tread wear and increase fuel consumption. It potentially weakens the efficiency of the tyres and reduces the driver's control over the vehicle. If you notice your car moving slightly to the left or right even while you hold the steering straight, if the steering wheel vibrates, or if squealing noises erupt from the tyres, you should know that the tyres are incorrectly aligned.
Avoid Overloading Your Vehicle
If your vehicle boards loads or passengers beyond its capacity, it will put enormous pressure on the tyres that could wear and weaken the tyres. The load index ratio specified on the sidewalls of the tyres and the vehicle handbook limits the maximum weight a vehicle can load. Try not to exceed the amount to maintain the tyres and maximize your safety.
Using the Correct Seasonal Tyres
tyres are susceptible to damage if the tyre type is not appropriate for different weather conditions. A summer tyre tends to stiffen and wear down when the temperature falls below 7 degrees celsius. Similarly, winter tyres are not adaptable to hot weather conditions. If you do not use all-season tyres, make sure to swap the tyre types according to the change in seasons where you leave.
Maintaining the tyres should be your priority if you don't want to compromise the vehicle's performance. If you are booking an MOT test Luton, make sure you resolve all the tyre maintenance issues discussed in this article. Driving with damaged tyres comes with a heavy penalty and life risk. So please ensure proper maintenance of the tyres for a long and healthy run! Want to more info car battery Luton.
800-CarGuru tyre care tips and tyre maintenance guide helps you to ensure satisfactory mileage and performance.
Before going for a drive check tyre air pressure, wheel alignment, wheel balancing, wear and tear of the tyre.
Welcome to ALS Tyres Wokingham with over 30 years experience, ALS Tyres Wokingham specialise in supply and Fitting of car tyres to an extremely high standard.
There are several aspects related to car engineering but proving optimum traction to the car owners is considered as the most important factor.In simple words, tyre traction is the ability of the car tyres to form a firm hold on the road, owing to the frictional force between them.
The intensity of frictional force may vary on different surfaces.For example, due to water on a wet surface, traction may be reduced considerably to affect the stability and control of the vehicle.If water creates a layer between the surface and wheel, the driver can experience hydroplaning.
Therefore, car tyres for wet surfaces are made with a special tread pattern to increase traction and disperse water safely.One more example of the variation due to changing surfaces is snowy or muddy roads.
They are slippery, and the manufacturers need unique designs to increase traction.So, it is obvious that traction’s role in smooth driving is extremely important.You have read some examples that are enough to make it clear that every car driver does not need the same type of traction.Thus, it is important to discuss various types of traction.Different needs, different surfaces, different tractionWell-known tyre making brands in Leeuwarden offer different types of products to provide an optimum driving experience.
However, most brands keep traction in the high priority list because of its critical role in driving on varied surfaces.Secondly, not every vehicle is made with the same objectives.
For example, a racing car has different driving requirements and these requirements will be different for a heavyweight truck.So the type of vehicle and road conditions both are important to consider when the tyre manufacturers are trying to make a perfect tyre for their customers.Furthermore, tyre manufacturers do not ignore the factors that are known to reduce good traction.These factors include oil, grease, sand, and mud.
