Know Your Tyres
Penfold Tyres
Maintenance & Safety
 Maintenance

Maintenance & Safety


Check Your Tyre Inflation

Proper tyre inflation is essential for safe driving and long tyre life. It's wise to check your tyres' air pressure at least once a month with an accurate tyre pressure gauge. Be sure to check pressure when your tyres are cold and have not been used recently. Even driving a kilometer will cause your tyre pressure to increase and give you an inaccurate reading.

 

Should you experience continuous loss of inflation pressure, it could be an indication of a possible tyre or wheel assembly problem. Consult your Penfold tyre professional immediately if you encounter this situation.

 

Check Your Tyre Tread

There are two popular ways to check for signs of tyre tread wear. 


One easy way is the coin test - Simply insert a coin into your tyre's tread groove.  If you can see all of coin's face, it's time to replace your tyres.

 

Another way is to look at the tread wear indicator bar that's molded into your tyres. The bars are located at the bottoms of the tread grooves in several locations around the tyre. When a tyre is so worn that these bars become visibly flush with the adjacent tread ribs, it's time to replace the tyre.

 

Penfold suggests using the tyre tread using either method every 3,000 miles.

 

Know What Certain Wear Patterns Mean

As tyres wear, sometimes wear patterns emerge that can indicate problems with your vehicle or tyres. If you see any of these patterns, have your tyres checked by a professional. 


Here are some wear patterns to watch for.

  • Wear on both edges: Known as 'Under-inflation' this patten could lead to a reduced treadlife due to increasing tread wear on its outside edges, or shoulders. It also generates excessive heat which reduces tire toughness. In addition to this it also reduces fuel economy through increased rolling resistance because soft tyres make your vehicle work harder. Abnormal tire wear may also be caused by misalignment or mechanical problems. 
  • Wear in center: Known as Over-inflation is seen when the center of the tread bears most of the load and therefore wears out faster than the outside edges. Uneven wear reduces the useful life of a tyre. It could also be the result of misalignment or mechanical problems. 
  • Cups or dips in the tread: This type of tyre wear is common in front tyres, although rear tyres can cup as well. It may be a sign that wheels are out of balance or that suspension or steering system parts are worn out. 
  • Sawtooth edges: Are caused by misalignment. If the edges of your tyre tread take on a sawtooth or feathered appearance, it's because of erratic scrubbing against the road. The solution is an alignment correction. 

Tyre Balancing

If your tyres are unbalanced, you'll notice vibration. This can lead to driver fatigue, premature or irregular tyre wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Your tyres should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they are remounted after repair. Check your tyre balance at the first sign of vibration or shimmy.

 

Vehicle Alignment

Your vehicle is properly aligned when all of its suspension and steering components are working smoothly and when its tyre and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. If you notice uneven tread wear, it could be due to a misalignment and your vehicle should be serviced by a professional.

 

Tyre Rotation

While many people are knowledgeable enough to rotate their own tyre, the procedure is especially quick and easy for a professional. Your vehicle's owner's manual will specify the proper rotation pattern and schedule for your vehicle. 

 

Tyre Repair

Tyre repairs should be made by a trained tyre professional. Proper repair procedure includes dismounting the tyre from the wheel. This allows for thorough inspection of the tyre for damage, as well as the use of a patch and plug to repair any punctures that fall within the guidelines for repair.


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Know Your Tyres

To help maximise performance and driving security, we've assembled this guide to help assist you in properly caring and maintaining your tyres.

  • Safety
    Changes that follow with each season set particular conditions and challenges for safe driving.
    more >
  • Pressure
    Maintaining proper air pressure is the single most important thing drivers can do for their tires. In the space of just one month, a tire can lose two pounds of air pressure.
    more >
  • Markings
    The side of your tyre  known as the sidewall contains all of the information you need to know about your tyre.
    more >
Penfold Motors is the one-stop spot for all your tyre needs.