Care for your tyres so as to extend their lifespan and save money in the process.
Tyres are, arguably, the most important components to keep your car moving. Without tyres, that car’s going nowhere.
Yet many of us take tyres (all five of them, including the one in the boot) for granted and don’t pay enough attention to their maintenance. And, since we don’t, we’re looking at wearing tyres out quicker than we should be, and needing to replace them prematurely. Proper inflation alone can extend the average life of a tire by almost 20 000 km and save motorists up to R1,65 per litre.
Here is a practical list of the things you should do to extend the lifetime of your tyres.. Properly inflated tyres
– Know your vehicles correct tyre pressure. Check your tyre pressure monthly, and before you take long trips. This keeps the car running at its most efficient, increases tyre longevity, and improves the safety of you, your friends, and family.
– Move to nitrogen. Tyres stay correctly pressurised for longer, and since nitrogen allegedly makes them run up to 20% cooler, they last longer too..Caring for tread depth
– The legal minimum tread depth is 1 mm, but you need to consider that insufficient tread will result in a drop in performance with an increase in braking distances, loss of traction, aquaplaning in wet conditions which may result in a blowout.
– Clean and inspect your tyres regularly.
– Replace old tyres with an identical set.
– Drive more carefully. This is obviously crucial for safety, but it has an impact on your tyre’s lifespan too.
– Reduce your top speeds. Driving faster, generates more heat for your tyres and accelerates their wear.
– Buy premium brand tyres. They generally come with a warranty, have undergone extensive testing and R&D, outperform unknown brands, and give you peace of mind. . Rotate, balance, and align your tyres regularly. Do this every 10 000 km or as recommended in your car’s manual or when you have hit a pothole or curb.
