All car tyres wear – they are, after all, consumable items. However, some car tyres wear faster than others. Let’s take a look at eight aspects that affect car tyre life.
1. Wheel Alignment
When your car’s wheel alignment is correct, the tyres can run true on the road. This means that a balance exists between the car tyre’s drag and the amount of compliance in the car’s suspension. Incorrect alignment spells increased wear, and can affect your rear wheels as well as the front ones.
2. Speed
Continuous high-speed driving accelerates car tyre wear. If you doubt this, just take a look at Formula One – pit stops aren’t to give the driver a rest while the tyres are changed!
3. Driving Style
If you drive sympathetically, your car tyres will last longer. Drive aggressively and you’ll pay for it through having to replace your car tyres sooner. An aggressive driving style will raise car tyre flexing and running temperature, and increase tread wear.
4. Car Tyre Placement
On a rear-wheel drive car, the front tyres must cope with steering and braking while the rear tyres offer traction as well as grip. On a front-wheel-drive car, the front tyres have still more to do, consequently wearing faster.
5. Vehicle Weight
Heavier vehicles wear our car tyres faster than lighter ones. There are, of course, heavier duty car tyres to compensate for this to some extent. However, the basic principle remains.
6. Car Tyre Type
Car tyres are constructed to meet particular needs. A performance tyre will give superior grip but will wear out sooner, as it has a softer rubber compound. Conversely, a harder, long life tyre will offer a longer life, at the cost of lesser grip and increased noise. There are tyre types that offer a compromise between the various demands on car tyres.
7. Tyre Pressure
An underinflated car tyre flexes more, runs hotter and wears faster than a correctly inflated one. Underinflation also increases fuel consumption, by creating additional tyre drag. Overinflation is nearly as bad, causing strange wear patterns and reducing grip.
8. The Passage of Time
This is the one aspect affecting tyre life that can’t be avoided. Ultra violet light causes rubber to degrade, as do chemical spills on the road. The usual giveaway is the appearance of cracked sidewalls…themselves indicative of a car tyre that is old. A car that is garaged will receive better car tyre life than a car that lives outside.
As is now clear, the factors affecting car tyre life – and performance – are many and varied. Mechanical sympathy and assiduous car maintenance positively affect tyre life. Conversely, it isn’t really surprising that bad habits can affect tyre life negatively.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Monday, 19 November 2012
Changing a Car Tyre the Professional Way
Back in the mists of time, motorists used to change their own tyres – by hand. No doubt there are diehard enthusiasts who still do this but for us mere mortals, there are car tyre bays. Here’s how a car tyre is changed – by machine.
To be attended to on a tyre machine, the car wheel with the tyre to be replaced must be taken off. Enter the trolley jack and powered wheel nut wrench. Almost without exception a key or adaptor to cope with the locking wheel nut is needed now. Soon enough, the errant car tyre will be detached from the car, complete with wheel.
Now the fun begins! We’re contemplating separating a big, tough rubber ring from the big, heavy metal wheel it’s been embracing, probably for many miles. The tyre fitter can unscrew the tyre valve and let the air out, but he can’t make any impression on the car tyre/wheel combination without mechanical assistance. This is why the tyre machine has powerful, compressed air-powered jaws, better known as the bead breaker. With the deflated car tyre placed correctly, all the fitter need do is press on a pedal. The jaws seize the tyre and separate the bead from the wheel rim.
The failed car tyre now has to go up in the world. More accurately, it has to lie flat on the tyre machine, with the wheel clamped firmly in place. More compressed air is used to let the machine seize the wheel firmly. Then, the fitter will place the hooked head of the tyre machine by the car tyre’s bead. Lifting the broken bead carefully over the wheel rim with a tyre lever, the fitter will flip it over the machine’s head. Another press of a pedal releases compressed air, causing the wheel to rotate. The tyre machine’s head peels the upper bead of the car tyre up and off the wheel rim. Repeat the process for the lower bead and that’s it – the old car tyre is off.
Now for a spot of wheel preparation. The old tyre valve’s inner fitting is sawn off and the valve is drawn out. The old balance weights will be peeled off or unclipped and, in some instances, the fitter will use a hand wire brush to clean corrosion off the wheel rim. Then, after having replaced the tyre valve, the fitter will apply a special compound to the wheel rim and the new car tyre. This stuff is a lubricant that will make fitting the new tyre easier. However, where there has been an air leak between the old tyre and the wheel, the fitter will brush on a special sealant.
The tyre machine comes into play again now. Once cleaned, lubed (or sealed) and re-valved, the wheel is ready to accept the new car tyre. The machine is simply used in reverse order, the push the new tyre over the wheel rim, bead by bead. Using a compressed air line, the fitter will then inflate the new car tyre. Sometimes, the tyre/wheel will need encouragement to seal but the tyre will eventually seat itself – sometimes with a loud bang – when air pressure builds up. Throughout the car tyre-fitting process, the tyre machine has done most of the heavy work, while the tyre fitter carried out the intelligent tasks.
So, are we finished? Not quite – the wheel and car tyre combination need to be balanced. There’s another machine for this. Having placed the wheel on the tyre-balancing machine and clamped it on firmly, the fitter will close a safety guard and start the machine. The machine spins the wheel up to a given speed, which is usually about 200 revolutions per minute. Now it’s the balancing machine’s turn to be clever. Using its sensors and electronics, the machine will tell the fitter how heavy the balance weights need to be and exactly where they must go. Using the machine’s recommendations, wheel weights will be fitted and the newly balanced wheel taken up to speed again. Fine-tuning can be done but it’s rarely needed.
What used to be done manually, and could lead to sore hands and backache has been done quickly and efficiently. Should you watch from the comfort of the waiting area, you’ll know exactly what the fitter was doing at each stage of the tyre change…and why!
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
To be attended to on a tyre machine, the car wheel with the tyre to be replaced must be taken off. Enter the trolley jack and powered wheel nut wrench. Almost without exception a key or adaptor to cope with the locking wheel nut is needed now. Soon enough, the errant car tyre will be detached from the car, complete with wheel.
Now the fun begins! We’re contemplating separating a big, tough rubber ring from the big, heavy metal wheel it’s been embracing, probably for many miles. The tyre fitter can unscrew the tyre valve and let the air out, but he can’t make any impression on the car tyre/wheel combination without mechanical assistance. This is why the tyre machine has powerful, compressed air-powered jaws, better known as the bead breaker. With the deflated car tyre placed correctly, all the fitter need do is press on a pedal. The jaws seize the tyre and separate the bead from the wheel rim.
The failed car tyre now has to go up in the world. More accurately, it has to lie flat on the tyre machine, with the wheel clamped firmly in place. More compressed air is used to let the machine seize the wheel firmly. Then, the fitter will place the hooked head of the tyre machine by the car tyre’s bead. Lifting the broken bead carefully over the wheel rim with a tyre lever, the fitter will flip it over the machine’s head. Another press of a pedal releases compressed air, causing the wheel to rotate. The tyre machine’s head peels the upper bead of the car tyre up and off the wheel rim. Repeat the process for the lower bead and that’s it – the old car tyre is off.
Now for a spot of wheel preparation. The old tyre valve’s inner fitting is sawn off and the valve is drawn out. The old balance weights will be peeled off or unclipped and, in some instances, the fitter will use a hand wire brush to clean corrosion off the wheel rim. Then, after having replaced the tyre valve, the fitter will apply a special compound to the wheel rim and the new car tyre. This stuff is a lubricant that will make fitting the new tyre easier. However, where there has been an air leak between the old tyre and the wheel, the fitter will brush on a special sealant.
The tyre machine comes into play again now. Once cleaned, lubed (or sealed) and re-valved, the wheel is ready to accept the new car tyre. The machine is simply used in reverse order, the push the new tyre over the wheel rim, bead by bead. Using a compressed air line, the fitter will then inflate the new car tyre. Sometimes, the tyre/wheel will need encouragement to seal but the tyre will eventually seat itself – sometimes with a loud bang – when air pressure builds up. Throughout the car tyre-fitting process, the tyre machine has done most of the heavy work, while the tyre fitter carried out the intelligent tasks.
So, are we finished? Not quite – the wheel and car tyre combination need to be balanced. There’s another machine for this. Having placed the wheel on the tyre-balancing machine and clamped it on firmly, the fitter will close a safety guard and start the machine. The machine spins the wheel up to a given speed, which is usually about 200 revolutions per minute. Now it’s the balancing machine’s turn to be clever. Using its sensors and electronics, the machine will tell the fitter how heavy the balance weights need to be and exactly where they must go. Using the machine’s recommendations, wheel weights will be fitted and the newly balanced wheel taken up to speed again. Fine-tuning can be done but it’s rarely needed.
What used to be done manually, and could lead to sore hands and backache has been done quickly and efficiently. Should you watch from the comfort of the waiting area, you’ll know exactly what the fitter was doing at each stage of the tyre change…and why!
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Monday, 12 November 2012
Merityre News!!
Building will shortly commence at MERITYRE SPECIALISTS LTD, West Way, Walworth Business Park, Andover, to extend the existing retail tyre depot. Two new bays should be operational early in the New Year, adding an extra 50% to the current space available for fitting tyres, batteries exhausts and brakes.
The existing Merityre building was constructed in 1988, as a purpose built warehouse and Head Office for Merityre, which currently has a further 21 Tyre and Exhaust Branches in the South of England. The retail fitting bays were part of the original design, but were limited in size due to Test Valley Borough Council planning restrictions at that time.
Now that Andover is seeing the expansion of its housing stock at both Augusta Park and Picket Twenty, the increase in business at Merityre has prompted this expansion, to improve customer facilities and reduce waiting times during busy periods. Merityre is open for business 7 days a week, from 8.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 5.00pm Saturdays and 9.30am – 12 noon on Sunday mornings. Local branch manager Paul Kinnaird, and his assistant Craig Denness, are looking forward to these new facilities and remain committed to providing a top class service on Tyres, Exhausts, Brakes and associated products in 2013!
The existing Merityre building was constructed in 1988, as a purpose built warehouse and Head Office for Merityre, which currently has a further 21 Tyre and Exhaust Branches in the South of England. The retail fitting bays were part of the original design, but were limited in size due to Test Valley Borough Council planning restrictions at that time.
Now that Andover is seeing the expansion of its housing stock at both Augusta Park and Picket Twenty, the increase in business at Merityre has prompted this expansion, to improve customer facilities and reduce waiting times during busy periods. Merityre is open for business 7 days a week, from 8.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 5.00pm Saturdays and 9.30am – 12 noon on Sunday mornings. Local branch manager Paul Kinnaird, and his assistant Craig Denness, are looking forward to these new facilities and remain committed to providing a top class service on Tyres, Exhausts, Brakes and associated products in 2013!
Friday, 12 October 2012
Car Tyre Care. A Significant Investment
When you drive out for the first time on a brand new set of car tyres, you’ll probably be experiencing one of two feelings. You may have a sense of pride in the knowledge that you’ve had your tyres replaced after getting the full life from the previous set. On the other hand, you may feel frustration. Why? Because you misused or neglected your old tyres, making the new set into what retailers call a ‘distress purchase’. You had to replace your car tyres early, when a little car tyre care would have put off the evil day.
It would be naïve to expect a set of car tyres to last indefinitely – they are consumables after all. However, bad driving habits, poor road conditions and mechanical faults can limit the lifespan of car tyres. Let’s look at some of the more common causes of premature tyre breakdown.
Much as your continuing health can depend on your car tyres, the health – and lifespan – of your car tyres largely depends on you. Yes, you can drive on the limit, squeaking your rubber on the Queen’s highway at every opportunity. Alternatively, you can drive more, well, let’s say soberly, and increase your car tyres’ longevity.
Though you can’t choose the road surfaces on which you drive, you can drive according to the road surface. We’re not quite at Third World status in this country but the combination of heavy traffic, severe winters and saving money on repairing the damage these do; means we encounter some bad roads. Car tyres are of necessity tough but they aren’t indestructible. When you find yourself driving on a particularly poor road surface, slow down. This gives your tyres an easier life and gives you time to steer round potholes.
There are also road ‘surfaces’ that can be detrimental to tyre life. Traffic-calming measures (some call them ‘traffic-harming measures’) such as speed bumps and speed pads can damage your car’s tyres, steering and suspension.
These devices are designed to make you slow down. The sad truth is that if they don’t do this sooner, they probably will later, to your cost. Rule one is to never straddle a speed bump. Your car tyres and suspension are not really designed to take a load that effectively pushes them outwards forcibly. Straddling speed bumps can lead to increased tyre and suspension wear, and misalignment. Instead, drive so that the wheels on one side of your car pass over the speed bump. Hint: if driving alone, let the passenger side wheels take the strain.
You can’t avoid full width speed bumps and speed pads, even for your car tyres’ sake. You could, of course, press on regardless but even big, butch 4x4s can suffer damage from excessive speed over speed bumps.
The other car tyre killer isn’t so much a road surface as a piece of street furniture. Kerbs have their rightful place in the scheme of things. Your car tyres have no right to be traversing or hitting kerbs. Yes, your car tyres have a cushioning effect, so you can lightly touch a kerb if it confirms your position during parking. However, with low-profile tyres and alloy wheels being so common, raked rims are all too evident. Look at a few parked cars and you’ll see the results of car wheel to kerb contact. Just bear this in mind: if the wheel rim is gouged, chipped or cracked, what’s going on in the tyre?
Such damage and the effect of speed bumps can put your car’s wheels out of alignment. This in turn causes the car tyres to wear unevenly, even if you don’t feel its effect at the steering wheel. Having wheel alignment checked isn’t too expensive, and is far less costly than new tyres. Have your car’s shock absorbers checked too, and remember that over- or underinflated car tyres cost, the latter in terms of fuel consumption as well as wear.
Looking after your car tyres and its suspension and steering pays dividends in terms of economy, longevity and performance. Should these not be enough of an incentive, there’s that small matter of personal safety too.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
It would be naïve to expect a set of car tyres to last indefinitely – they are consumables after all. However, bad driving habits, poor road conditions and mechanical faults can limit the lifespan of car tyres. Let’s look at some of the more common causes of premature tyre breakdown.
Much as your continuing health can depend on your car tyres, the health – and lifespan – of your car tyres largely depends on you. Yes, you can drive on the limit, squeaking your rubber on the Queen’s highway at every opportunity. Alternatively, you can drive more, well, let’s say soberly, and increase your car tyres’ longevity.
Though you can’t choose the road surfaces on which you drive, you can drive according to the road surface. We’re not quite at Third World status in this country but the combination of heavy traffic, severe winters and saving money on repairing the damage these do; means we encounter some bad roads. Car tyres are of necessity tough but they aren’t indestructible. When you find yourself driving on a particularly poor road surface, slow down. This gives your tyres an easier life and gives you time to steer round potholes.
There are also road ‘surfaces’ that can be detrimental to tyre life. Traffic-calming measures (some call them ‘traffic-harming measures’) such as speed bumps and speed pads can damage your car’s tyres, steering and suspension.
These devices are designed to make you slow down. The sad truth is that if they don’t do this sooner, they probably will later, to your cost. Rule one is to never straddle a speed bump. Your car tyres and suspension are not really designed to take a load that effectively pushes them outwards forcibly. Straddling speed bumps can lead to increased tyre and suspension wear, and misalignment. Instead, drive so that the wheels on one side of your car pass over the speed bump. Hint: if driving alone, let the passenger side wheels take the strain.
You can’t avoid full width speed bumps and speed pads, even for your car tyres’ sake. You could, of course, press on regardless but even big, butch 4x4s can suffer damage from excessive speed over speed bumps.
The other car tyre killer isn’t so much a road surface as a piece of street furniture. Kerbs have their rightful place in the scheme of things. Your car tyres have no right to be traversing or hitting kerbs. Yes, your car tyres have a cushioning effect, so you can lightly touch a kerb if it confirms your position during parking. However, with low-profile tyres and alloy wheels being so common, raked rims are all too evident. Look at a few parked cars and you’ll see the results of car wheel to kerb contact. Just bear this in mind: if the wheel rim is gouged, chipped or cracked, what’s going on in the tyre?
Such damage and the effect of speed bumps can put your car’s wheels out of alignment. This in turn causes the car tyres to wear unevenly, even if you don’t feel its effect at the steering wheel. Having wheel alignment checked isn’t too expensive, and is far less costly than new tyres. Have your car’s shock absorbers checked too, and remember that over- or underinflated car tyres cost, the latter in terms of fuel consumption as well as wear.
Looking after your car tyres and its suspension and steering pays dividends in terms of economy, longevity and performance. Should these not be enough of an incentive, there’s that small matter of personal safety too.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
The Right Stuff. Which Car Tyres Are The Ones For You?
Car tyres? Pretty much of a muchness, aren’t they? The one-word answer is ‘no’. There are many different kinds of tyre and here are six types used with road cars.
The most commonly-fitted type of car tyre is known as a standard, or all-season tyre. Such tyres are essentially a compromise. They work well enough in both wet and dry conditions, last for a fairly long time and aren’t too noisy on normal road surfaces. A jack of all trades and therefore a master of none? You may think so but in practice, standard car tyres work well for a lot of customers. There are some sub-divisions within this classification. Some car tyres are claimed to give better fuel economy, for example. These nevertheless remain under the ‘standard tyre’ banner.
So, when might you need non-standard tyres? Winter is a good example. Winter tyres come into their own when there’s snow and ice to be tackled. These car tyres have coarse tread patterns, the better to keep the treads clear of snow and ice. Less obviously, they contain rubber compounds and structures that remain flexible at lower temperatures, which enhances performance and roadholding. On the downside, they are noisy and, in normal conditions, wear out faster than standard tyres. For this reason, some people have a set of winter wheels to go with their winter tyres.
A car tyre that performs well in cold weather is totally different from a performance tyre. These, sometimes called ‘summer tyres’, are made of softer compounds, to offer superior grip. As well as having impressive marked speed ratings, such car tyres can cope with the demands of more powerful, faster cars. To do this, they trade wear rate for performance – they don’t last as long as lesser rubberware, and they abhor cold conditions.
As their name implies, run-flat tyres can be used even after suffering a puncture. Such car tyres achieve this with the imposition of a specific distance and speed up to which they can safely be used. Space-saver tyres are a cousin of run-flat tyres. The take up less space in the car but when fitted, must be used with similar restrictions on speed and distance.
What about the still less friendly conditions we might encounter? Enter the all-terrain tyre. For use on such surfaces as gravel and sand, these are particularly tough customers with very bold tread patterns. They have stiffer sidewalls, and the kind of structure that can handle potholes and debris on the road. The car tyre for all seasons? Not really. Sturdy? Yes. Long-lived? Yes? Quiet? Definitely not!
Similarly, mud tyres have an extremely large tread block pattern and are suitable for use only in muddy conditions. Car tyres of this kind are often used on those four-wheel drive vehicles that are actually taken on rough roads; this includes 4×4s that specifically go off-road regularly. The ‘Chelsea Tractor’ that does the school run doesn’t need them.
As should be obvious, the type of tyres you choose depends entirely on the use to which they will be put. Your local Merityre staff will happily give you a professional opinion on what type will be best for your needs.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
The most commonly-fitted type of car tyre is known as a standard, or all-season tyre. Such tyres are essentially a compromise. They work well enough in both wet and dry conditions, last for a fairly long time and aren’t too noisy on normal road surfaces. A jack of all trades and therefore a master of none? You may think so but in practice, standard car tyres work well for a lot of customers. There are some sub-divisions within this classification. Some car tyres are claimed to give better fuel economy, for example. These nevertheless remain under the ‘standard tyre’ banner.
So, when might you need non-standard tyres? Winter is a good example. Winter tyres come into their own when there’s snow and ice to be tackled. These car tyres have coarse tread patterns, the better to keep the treads clear of snow and ice. Less obviously, they contain rubber compounds and structures that remain flexible at lower temperatures, which enhances performance and roadholding. On the downside, they are noisy and, in normal conditions, wear out faster than standard tyres. For this reason, some people have a set of winter wheels to go with their winter tyres.
A car tyre that performs well in cold weather is totally different from a performance tyre. These, sometimes called ‘summer tyres’, are made of softer compounds, to offer superior grip. As well as having impressive marked speed ratings, such car tyres can cope with the demands of more powerful, faster cars. To do this, they trade wear rate for performance – they don’t last as long as lesser rubberware, and they abhor cold conditions.
As their name implies, run-flat tyres can be used even after suffering a puncture. Such car tyres achieve this with the imposition of a specific distance and speed up to which they can safely be used. Space-saver tyres are a cousin of run-flat tyres. The take up less space in the car but when fitted, must be used with similar restrictions on speed and distance.
What about the still less friendly conditions we might encounter? Enter the all-terrain tyre. For use on such surfaces as gravel and sand, these are particularly tough customers with very bold tread patterns. They have stiffer sidewalls, and the kind of structure that can handle potholes and debris on the road. The car tyre for all seasons? Not really. Sturdy? Yes. Long-lived? Yes? Quiet? Definitely not!
Similarly, mud tyres have an extremely large tread block pattern and are suitable for use only in muddy conditions. Car tyres of this kind are often used on those four-wheel drive vehicles that are actually taken on rough roads; this includes 4×4s that specifically go off-road regularly. The ‘Chelsea Tractor’ that does the school run doesn’t need them.
As should be obvious, the type of tyres you choose depends entirely on the use to which they will be put. Your local Merityre staff will happily give you a professional opinion on what type will be best for your needs.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Monday, 24 September 2012
Save Money on Fuel by Checking Your Tyre Pressures!
Did you know that having under-inflated tyres affects the handling and grip of your vehicle which can cause it to behave in an irregular or unpredictable way? Furthermore it means that you have a much higher chance of suffering a dangerous blowout, especially on long distance high speed journeys. The tread on your tyres will also wear unevenly if it is over or under inflated and you will need to have them replaced more often.
By keeping your tyres
at the correct pressure your running costs will be reduced as you will save
money on fuel. Under inflated tyres require more force to make them turn, and
therefore… more fuel.
So… Where do you find the correct tyre pressure for your
vehicle? Well there are a number of places to check this. Your vehicle user
manual is usually a good place to start as this should also provide information
on how much extra pressure you need if you are carrying a heavy load/trailer or
if you are going to be travelling at a high speed for a long time.
Other places it may
be are on a label on the front door posts of your car, or on the back of the
fuel cap cover. You can also check online at www.tyresafe.org/tyre-safety/tyre-pressure-check.
Now that you know the right pressure for your tyres you need
to check that they are correct. To do this you will need some form of tyre
pressure gauge like a foot pump or a digital pressure reader (all available at
your local car parts store). Remove the dust cover on your valve and attach the
gauge.
If your tyres are over inflated…
·
Let some air out by pressing the core of the
valve in using a match (or something similar).
·
Deflate the tyre in short bursts and check
regularly to ensure you don’t let too much out.
If your tyres are under inflated…
·
Ideally you should inflate your tyres when they
are cold as a warm tyre can increase in pressure by 2psi (pounds per square
inch).
·
Use a foot pump, plug in a 12v inflator, or use
your local fuel stations tyre pressure inflator (these should have charts with
all vehicle tyre pressures on them).
Make sure you check all of your tyres, including the spare!
Once your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure, put the dust cap back on
and you should be ready to go!
At all of our Merityre branches we offer Nitrogen Inflation.
By filling your tyres with Nitrogen, they will maintain their correct pressure
for longer as Nitrogen doesn’t leak through the tyre’s structure. Normal compressed
air consists of mostly oxygen and water vapour, both of which permeate through
the tyre casing. By filling your tyres with Nitrogen you will get:
·
Better road holding
·
Longer tread life – up to 25% increase
·
Reduced fuel consumption – Up to 5% reduction
·
No corrosion to the inside of the wheel.
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Checking your tyres… what.. why.. when.. and how…??
WHAT…
So.. How many of you actually know what you’re looking for when you check your tyres? I’ll be the first to admit that before I started working at Merityre I had no idea that the tread on your tyre could wear unevenly, or that you could actually repair a puncture rather than having to buy a brand new tyre. Well in this entry I will try to explain exactly what to look for when you check your tyres.
WHY…
It should go without saying that your tyres are a fundamental part of your vehicle as they are the only parts which have contact with the road (hopefully)!! It is therefore incredibly important that your tyres are in a safe and working condition when driving yourself/friends/family or anyone else around. You never know how many times your tyres may have saved you and your vehicle from serious accidents or damage already.
Did you know that WORN TYRES:
· Are unsafe
· Do not give you the adhesion to stay safe on the road
· Can be illegal… Penalty points here we come
· Can burst, leading to serious accidents
· Increase fuel consumption!
· Pick up foreign objects more easily which can lead to punctures
· Can lead to other more serious problems with your car
· Can increase the possibility of prosecution after an accident and increase insurance premiums.
· Will give you an uncomfortable ride
WHEN…
So firstly, when should you check your tyres? Well there isn’t really a set amount of time between when you should do checks, but we would recommend every week, and before undertaking any long journeys. This means that if you do have any problems, you will spot them quickly and hopefully avoid driving around on potentially dangerous tyres.
HOW…
The first step is to turn on your engine (with the handbrake on and out of gear), and turn the steering wheel so it locks on one side, then turn the engine off again (this will depend if your vehicle has power steering). This allows you to see the full breadth of the tread on your front tyres which is important as it allows you to notice if there is any uneven wear across the tyre.
(Many modern vehicle tyres are very wide and the innermost edge of these can wear right down while the outside edge can appear faultless. This can also occur on tyres if the steering and suspension alignment is out on the vehicle. It is very important to check the full width of the tread!)
LOOK FOR…
· Now you check your tread depth. The easiest way to do this is using a tread depth gauge, but if you don’t have one of these you can use the tread wear indicators which are located within the grooves of the treaded part of the tyre. These are small raised blocks about 10mm in length and 2mm in height which are situated all around the tyre (so you should be able to find them). The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm and the indicators are raised to 1.6mm to 2mm. Therefore if any part of the tread area is running flush with the indicators, your tyre has worn to its lowest level and needs replacing.
· You need to make sure that you check as much of the circumference of the tyre as possible as sometimes one section of the tread will be fine, and another section will be worn. This may mean that the tyre is distorted. You need to check for any material degradation in the tyre, for example cracking and perishing. At the same time look for any deep or long cuts and any foreign objects. Your car drives over lots of different surfaces so you may see bits of stones here and there, but any object which does not come out easily may have penetrated the tyre and be causing pressure loss (puncture).
· Now have a look at the side walls of the tyres. The side walls are prone to damage from impacts, chafing against curbs, under inflation and tearing. You will be looking for cuts, abrasions or missing rubber. When a tyre has a puncture or has been run under inflated for a while it can cause pinching between the wheel and the road surface (run flat damage). This can be seen as an abrasion mark running the entire circumference and worn letters and numbers on the side walls. When this occurs your tyre will need replacing.
· Bulges can be detected by running the flat of your hand over the entire surface of your sidewall. A bulge represents serious damage to the structural integrity of the tyre.
· In the outer rim of the wheel you will find the valve. Check this carefully for any deterioration of the material. Ensure caps are fitted. By moving the valve stem from side to side, look for cracking of the rubber around the base.
Repeat all of these processes for each tyre and don’t forget the spare!
So, for a quick recap:
Your tyres need attention if they have:
· Low tread depth
· Deterioration of the rubber (cracking or perishing)
· Uneven tread wear (distortion of tyre)
· Deep cuts or sections of tread missing
· Embedded foreign objects
· Side wall damage and bulges
· Damaged or worn valves
So.. Now you know why it is so important to check your tyres, and not just the tread depth, but the whole tyre. If you find this all a bit too much, then just bring your car to your local Merityre Branch www.merityre.co.uk/find_a_centre.htm and we’ll do it for you absolutely free. We will also give you advice on when you may need new tyres and give you a Merityre Tyre Check Report on their condition. You can also have a FREE Wheel Alignment check which will show up any problems and help to prevent your tyres from wearing unevenly.
For information about our Club Card Plus, go to our website at www.merityre.co.uk or ask at your local branch.
The next entry will explain how to check tyre pressures.
My Google+ Profile
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)