|
Tires are among the most important parts of a car, yet they remain one of the most neglected. Tire care is quick and easy, and regular checks will save you both time and money and help keep you out of trouble on the road.
The Importance of Correct Tire Pressures
Tires are crucial to a vehicle's performance in the following areas:
|
SAFETY |
Because tires are the only point of contact between your car and the road, they play an important part in braking. Tires that are not correctly inflated and/or are worn affects the braking distance of a vehicle. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMFORT |
Again because tires are the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, they also affect the comfort of the occupants. Over-inflated tires cause the ride to be bumpy, while under-inflated tires gives the ride a soggy feel and makes the steering heavy. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
HANDLING |
Incorrectly-inflated tires or uneven tires pressures in each wheel seriously affect the handling of the vehicle, making it difficult or impossible to drive or brake in a straight line or steer the vehicle around corners. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ECONOMY |
Improper inflation, especially under-inflation, takes a toll on the fuel economy because the vehicle will need more power to accelerate. The steering system, whether powered or not will also be under more stress. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What Your Tires Tell You
By looking at the tread patterns you will be able to tell if your tires have been correctly inflated and worn. The diagram below gives a rough illustration of the 3 common kinds of tire wear.
|
|
|
Simple Tire Care
|
|
|
DAILY VISUAL CHECK |
|
1) |
Check that all tires have about the same inflation pressure |
|
2) |
Check the sidewalls of the tires for cracks or unusual bulges |
|
3) |
Check and remove any foreign objects that might puncture your tire, eg. stones, nails, etc. |
|
|
|
|
|
MONTHLY TIRE PRESSURE CHECK |
|
1) |
Use a proper tire pressure guage to measure the tire pressure. |
|
2) |
Check pressure and inflate when the tires are cold. (A hot tire will show inaccurate reading due to heat expansion) |
|
3) |
It takes as long as 4 hours for a tire to cool down. It¹s a good idea to check the tire pressure first thing in the morning. |
|
4) |
Don¹t forget to inflate your spare tire too! |
|
5) |
 The correct air pressure is shown on the tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge, door post, glove box door or fuel door. If your vehicle doesn't have a placard, check the owner's manual or consult with the vehicle manufacturer or your local tire dealer for the proper inflation. |
|
|
TIRE ROTATION EVERY 5000km |
|
1) |
Visit a reputable tire shop for tire rotation. |
|
2) |
Check your car owner¹s handbook for rotating sequence. |
|
3) |
Have your tires balanced at the same time. |
|
|
|
|
|
