9 top tips on how to maintain your car tyres

Whether it's winter or summer, anyone can benefit from helpful tyre and wheel maintenance tips. Get our 9 pointers right here!

Tyres are more than just rubber seals around your wheels; they are high-tech inventions designed to carry your vehicle for a long distance. The tyre market is massive, and tyres can have a significant impact on your steering, safety, and overall fuel economy.

Whenever you need to buy new tyres, switch from one type to another, such as winter to summer tyres, or simply want to know how to maintain your tyres better when it comes to car service in Reading, consult our 9 top tips:

Consider replacing your tyres for increased safety and economy -

If you live in an area where the roads are affected by seasonal changes, or if you are travelling to a climate that is very different from your own, you may want to change your tyres. When the road surface becomes colder, summer tyres have poorer braking properties than winter tyres, which can be dangerous. Aside from security, there is also the issue of money. When driving on cold roads, summer tyres provide less fuel economy than winter tyres!

Cleaning your tyres and wheels -

If you change your own tyres, it is critical that you thoroughly clean or wash the bolts, nuts, and wheel hubs, as this reduces the risk of serious defects, rust, and impact on the steering.

Check the tread depth of your tyres -

Always ensure that the tread depth meet the legal requirement of having at least 1.6 mm tread depth. A common test is to insert a 20p coin into the tyre's thread. If it obscures the outer rim, you're fine because it's less than 1.6 mm. However, legal requirements are one thing, and security is quite another. To achieve the best road grip, you should not drive with tyres that have a tread depth of less than 3 mm, depending on tyre width, among other factors. This ensures that your tyres are as secure as possible.

Check for wear and tear -

If you have uneven wear on your tyres, it is recommended that you replace them; alternatively, make sure that the least worn tyres are mounted at the back. If you notice uneven wear, the car will most likely require a tracking/wheel alignment before the tyre change.

Make sure the bolts are tightened -

Whether you change your own tyres or hire a professional, you must always ensure that the bolts are retightened after a few miles of driving.

Always check the tyre pressure -

If the garage did not do it for you, make sure to check the pressure of the tyres after they have been replaced. Inadequate tyre pressure causes unnecessary wear, poor steering, and poor fuel economy.

Stay on top of tracking and wheel alignment -

Whether you change your own tyres or have them done by a professional, you should have your wheels aligned at least every second or third year. This ensures that the wheels have the proper geometry and angle on the road.

Swapping your tyres around -

It may be a good idea to change the tyres to avoid wearing them out too quickly. Essentially, this can be done when the car is inspected for service. Consult your car mechanic to see if your tyres have the proper properties to be swapped around.

Store your spare tyres correctly -

If you need to replace your tyres, make sure the current set of tyres is properly stored when you dismount them. It is critical how you store the set you are not driving on. If the tyres are mounted on rims and filled with air, they must be hung or stacked. Preferably in tyre bags, but also on a rack.

Recognising Tyre Sizes, Markings, and Profiles

Every tyre has sidewall markings that provide information about the tyre manufacturer, tyre range, size, load index, speed rating, and age; however, do you understand what this mean?

Your tyre size is the most important marking on your tyre, and you must ensure that you order the correct size when replacing your tyres. Lets take a look at the example of 205 55 R16 96W:

• The width of your tyre, measured in millimetres, is 205. (205mm)
• 55 denotes the tyre's profile or height as a percentage of the overall tyre width.
• The letter R denotes that it is a radial tyre.
• The diameter of the wheel rim is 16 inches (16”).
• The load index is 96. (maximum tyre load capacity)
• W denotes the speed rating (maximum approved tyre speed)