Safety
To help maximize performance and driving security, we've assembled this
guide to help assist you in properly caring and maintaining your tyres.
Please take the time to read through this guide in order to extend the life of your
tyres and to prepare them for the road.
Changes that follow with each season set particular conditions and challenges for
safe driving. By following these tips you can make a big difference to your overall
driving experience.
Proper Inflation
Maintaining proper air pressure is the single most important thing drivers can do
for their tyres. In the space of just one month, a tyre can lose two pounds of air
pressure.
Balance and Alignment
Having your tyres balanced and your vehicle properly aligned is important not only
to the longevity of the tyre but also to the safety of the driver and to the performance of
the car.
Regular Rotation
The weight of a vehicle is not evenly distributed
to all four tyres. Therefore, regular rotation is necessary to maintain even treadwear
and get the most out of your tyres.
Visual Inspection
Giving your tyres a good visual once-over can help
you discover punctures or other visible signs of damage that may make replacement
necessary. The next time you check the air pressure of your tyres, scan the treads
for any sharp objects that may have punctured your tyres. Even if the puncture is
not deep enough to flatten the tire immediately, the cracking and pitting caused
by smaller punctures can eventually worsen and lead to problems down the road.
Puncture Repairs
A puncture to any area of a tyre's tread will affect performance and safety, and therefore must be immediately attended to through either replacement of the tyre (spare or new tyre) or a patch. Any patch that is applied to a tyre must be applied to both the outer part of the tyre (tread) and the inner part of the tyre. The reason for this is that the rubber on each side is very different (inside is made of halo butyl rubber meant for holding air, while the outside is a harder durable rubber primarily designed for traction). A good tyre repair can only be made if the tyre is removed from the rim (wheel) and inspected carefully for any hidden damage. Only straight through holes, 4.0mm or smaller in diameter may be repaired, when no secondary damage has occurred.
Tread Wear Indicator
As your tyres wear down, their ability to grip the road decreases. Each tyre has what are known as wear bars. These appear at various points around the tyre as bars running through the tread design from one side of the tyre to the other. When your tyres are legally worn out (1.6 mm) the tread will be at the same level as the tread wear indicators and they will be easily visible. Usually before the tyre gets to this point, they will begin to feel unsafe. If that is the case, do not wait for them to get to the wear bars. Just because the tread depth is not as low as the tread wear bar, does not mean it is safe.