No matter if it’s summer or winter, everyone can benefit from changing and maintaining their tyres. Tyres are designed to carry you miles, and looking after your tyres will only prolong this. They can massively impact your steering, fuel economy and overall safety in a vehicle. Want to know how to maintain them better? We have created a useful guide with our top tips.
Change for better economy and safety
Some roads can be affected by seasonal changes, it’s only really worth changing tyres based on this if you live in an area where the roads are affected. Winter tyres have softer tread, which used on a warm summer road will wear out a lot quicker, and summer tyres have high levels of grip on wet and dry roads, but not icy. On a warm summer road, the winter tyres have higher resistance as the rubber changes shape, and so this increases the rolling resistance, and leads to higher fuel consumption.
Keep them clean
If you change your wheels yourself, you need to remember to clean around the nuts and bolts to reduce the risk of rust and any defects that could impact steering.
Check the tread and wear patterns
The main thing to check for is that the tread pattern of your tyres fits the legal requirement of at least 1.6mm in depth. The easiest way to do this is to put a 20p coin in the thread and if the outer edge of the coin is hidden, then you’re good. Even though this is the legal requirement, you shouldn’t drive if your tyres have a tread depth shorter than 3mm to ensure you get the best road grip. If you notice uneven wear, you will most likely need a wheel alignment before a tyre change.
Tighten the bolts
After getting your tyres changed, always make sure you have the bolts tightened after driving for a fair distance.
Check the pressure
When your tyres have been replaced, make sure to check the pressure. Many cars give a notification on the dashboard when your tyre pressure is low. Incorrect pressure, whether that’s too low or too high, can cause poor fuel economy and unnecessary wear.
Rotate them
Rotating your tyres is a good idea to prevent them from wearing out quickly. This can be done during a service, but talk to your mechanic first for advice.
Store them correctly
Whether you replace your tyres yourself or you go to a garage, make sure they are stored properly when you dismount them. If they are hung on rims and filled with air, they should be preferably stored in tyre bangs and on a rack.
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