Tyres are some of the most crucial car components that have to be maintained to ensure the safety of the driver and other road users.
Minor damage or defect to the surface of the tyres may affect the handling of the car and the brake’s efficiency. Consequently, what appears as a minor defect can put the lives of the driver and other road users at risk.
Therefore, as a responsible car owner, you must ensure all four tyres of your car are in good condition before you hit the road.
This article will share 4 tips to maintain your car tyres as a guide.
Maintain tyre air pressure
Are you aware that tyre air pressure needs to be checked every month?
When your car tyres do not have enough air pressure, the tyres’ load capacity will decrease, while the rotational resistance of the wheels will increase. This, in turn, will cause increased heat and mechanical damage.
You can check your car tyre air pressure and refill it for free at any gas station. Follow the steps below to fill the air pressure into the tyres:
- Set the appropriate tyre air pressure meter (pound per square inch (PSI) reading) for the car (you can usually find the appropriate PSI reading on the driver’s car door)
- Insert the air pressure checker into the tyre valve
- The rustling sound when pumping your car tyres is the air that comes out when using the tool, so do not worry. It will not change the tyre air pressure unless you use the tool for too long.
- If you feel that the tyre air pressure is beyond the appropriate level, release the excess air to the appropriate extent.
What happens if your car tyres do not have enough air pressure?
Tyres without enough air pressure will cause your car to use more gasoline due to more resistance. In addition, tyres that always have low air pressure will likely not last long.
Cross or change the position of car tyres
You also need to change the position of the car tyres (rotating) every 10,000km or once every six months. This also depends on the condition of the tyres and vehicle type. Tyres need to be crossed to distribute different tyre wear patents so as not to focus only on specific parts. For example, car rear tyres usually tend to wear in the middle, while front tyres often wear on the shoulder (side).
By crossing the position of the tyres, you will give room for the rear tyres to wear on the shoulders and the front tyres to wear in the middle. This can also indirectly extend the life of your car tyres and reduce uneven wear.
Tyre balancing and alignment
Balancing
Has your car steering wheel ever vibrated so hard all the way that it interfered with your driving? That is a sign that your tyre balancing was having a problem.
Tyre balancing is essential to ensure that the rotation of the tyre and rim is balanced with its axis of rotation. You are advised to do balancing on the tyres every 6 months to ensure that the car tyres are in good condition.
Alignment
Alignment on the car tyres should be done when you find that your steering wheel is tilted and not aligned to the car tyres.
A car tyre that is worn out on only one side is a sign that your car tyre needs alignment. For your information, the car tyre alignment process needs to be done to get the Toe and Chamber.
This ensures that the car tyres can run well and grip the road firmly. If the tyres cannot grip the road firmly, then the chances of an accident on the road are high.
These are some situations where you need to do tyre alignment:
- When your car hits a large hole or puddle with force and speed
- After changing the steering or suspension components of your car
- When your car often moves to the side even when driving straight
- When your car steering wheel does not return to its original position after turning
Check the thickness of the tyre tread
For your information, on average, a new car tyre has about 8mm of tread depth. When a tyre reaches the 3mm limit, you are advised to replace the tyre. Your car tyre is technically completely worn out at a minimum tread depth of 1.5mm (around 3¼ of a tyre surface).
For your information, when the tread depth on the tyre decreases, it will also indirectly decrease the tyre function. This means that your tyre’s ability to get rid of water and grip is reduced, thereby increasing the braking distance.
In addition to helping tyre grip, tyre grooves are designed to remove water from wet roads effectively. So, when the tyre tread wears out, the ability to get rid of water also decreases. This will increase the chances of aquaplaning (floating) situations on the road. Additionally, this will indirectly increase the possibility of your car losing control and running into an accident.
Check your car tyres regularly
We hope that our tyre maintenance tips can help you better maintain your tyres and make them last longer.
Remember that it is crucial to maintain your car tyres for the safety of your life and other road users. Do your best to inspect the tyres either on your own or at the workshop every few months, according to the recommended schedule.
Bjak is one of Malaysia’s largest car insurance comparison platforms that offers 15 insurance brands for consumers to compare. Get free car insurance quotes at Bjak.my and renew your car insurance online in just 5 minutes.
