Top 10 Tyre Tips That Everyone Should Know .
Let’s Explore the Top 10 Tyre Tips For 2019
Below you will find what we believe to be the “Top 10 Tyre Tips” for maintaining your tyres in the best shape for longevity and best tyre wear.
1. Tyre Pressures And Where To Find It
Generally, You can find the recommended tyre pressures on the outside edge of your tyres.
Most vehicles if not all, have a metal plate and on this, you will find the manufacturer recommended tyre pressures this will be located on the inside rail of the drivers’ door. Also on the wall of the outside of the tyre will show you a recommended cold pressure, If you’re unclear on where to find this or still not sure what pressure your tyres should be then call in and we will only be too happy to help.
2. Tread Depth And Best Way To Check
“You can use a Coin or MatchStick head to check your tyre’s tread. If part of the head shows, then it’s time for a replacement.
A simple match head is the easiest way to check tread depth. Another idea if you don’t have a match handy is to use a 20c coin and use that otherwise, drop in to see us and we can give you a free check at Leeuwin tyres, We will also indicate if you need to replace your tyres or not based on tread depth. You may also want to have a tread depth gauge in the vehicle toolbox, and these are available from most car part retail shops.
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3. What is Tread Wear and What is the Minimum Tread.
“For the safest and best driving conditions, you should replace your vehicle’s tyres with about 2mm of tread left.
As your tyres get used and the tread starts to wear down. Then so does the handling of the vehicle, the less tread on your tyres, the worse your vehicle’s braking performance and handling become. In wet conditions, these characteristics significantly increase.
In Australia, the legal minimum tread depth for any tyre is 1.5mm; this is the bare minimum that you want to be driving on. At this stage, handling and braking start to be compromised, and performance begins to suffer at any stage from less than 3mm of tread depth. Therefore, it is essential to replace your tyres long before they reach the minimum legal depth.
Simple Coin Tread Guage
The tyre tread should cover the red box, if like the photo on the right you can see any of this space
Ideally the tread should cover the red box and some more and as soon as the tread of the tyre drops below the top red line then its time for a new tyre.
4. Tyre Pressure Checks And How Often
“Check tyre pressures ideally when the rubber is cold and every month is a good habit to get into.”
Firstly take into consideration that you will get a different reading for a hot and cold tyre, It’s critical to check your tyre pressure when cold,
It’s how tyre manufacturers state so its good practice to follow and as it will give you the correct pressure that your tyres should be.
While driving, your tyres warm up and the pressure increases, giving you a false, higher pressure than they are really at,
However make sure that If you do check your tyres while they are ‘Warm’, its a good rule of thumb to add 4 PSI to the recommended cold tyre pressure. You should then have an accurate reading.
5. Visual Inspections are Needed
” Like anything, if you see something that’s not right take the necessary action, Inspect your tyres monthly while taking note of the tread depth, look for any signs of wear and tear, tears, bruises and objects that may have lodged into the walls of the tyres.”
Even the smallest damage or split that may appear superficial or not relevant can often be a slow leak in your tyre. When inspecting your tyres look at the sidewall and tread for any visible damage. If you think that something doesn’t look right or before that big trip away, visit your local tyre shop for a professional assessment of any damage.
6. Tyre Valve Caps
” It’s essential to replace your tyre caps as these often get overlooked as not being needed, but they keep debris and water out of the tyre valve.
When checking our tyre pressures take a look and see if they are still there, often these get lost or just misplaced and left off. The tyre valve caps are essential. These are so inexpensive compared to the tyres that they are on. They also serve the purpose that will save your tyres from foreign objects, and water from damaging the inside of the valve.
7. Matching Tyre Treads
” It is always good practice to match treads on the same Axle. Mismatching tyres not only cause handling issues but can cause damage in the long term to the tyres .”
Due to the many different characteristics of different tyres, even from the same manufacturer. It is wise to keep the same wheels on the vehicle.
Mixing brands and treads, especially on the same axle can cause severe handling issues and make the car handle poorly.
Its always good practice to keep with the same manufacturer and tyre for all four wheels on your vehicle and this also improves handling
8. Wheel Balancing
Regular wheel balances to your car will enhance wet road-handling and safety.
An essential aspect of your vehicle’s regular maintenance, wheel balancing ensures that each wheel receives regular contact on the road by adjusting the weights on each wheel. Common symptoms of unbalanced wheels include increased vibrations felt through the steering wheel and premature wear on suspension components.
Find out more about wheel balancing by contacting Leeuwin tyres today!
9. Wheel Alignments Go Hand in Hand With Balancing
“Common practice is to have your wheel rotated, and wheel alignment carried out every six months, this also increases the life and ensures even wear of your tyres and will also extend the overall life of the tyres.”
Not only does a wheel alignment ensures that all your wheels line up with your vehicle’s centreline.
It also improves the tracking and driving of your car to drive straight and not pull to one side.
Common Practice is to have both the wheel alignment and balancing done at the same time.
Getting your wheels balanced not only prolong the life of your tyres but also making your car handle more responsively while driving.
Find out more about wheel alignments from your local Leeuwin Tyres today!
10. Last But Not Least The Spare Tyre
“Don’t forget to regularly check your spare tyre for cracking and wear due to age.”
Our spare tyres are often the last resort, hidden away in the boot of the car or stowed somewhere on the outside. Whether you have a space-saver or full-size spare, it’s essential to check the tyre for damage due to old age.
Your spare tyre should be replaced every five years as a minimum.
For more information about any of these top 10 tyres tips, contact Leeuwin Tyres for extra details!
