Your tyres are the one part of your vehicle that are in constant contact with the roads, and as such, if they are not in good shape, you will probably not have a pleasant drive – that is, if you can move at all! If you are planning on travelling this spring and summer, here are some essential vehicle maintenance tips to keep your tyres running smoothly, no matter if you’re heading to London for a weekend city break or to beautiful Kirkcaldy in tranquil Fife for a couple of weeks of downtime in rural Scotland.
Keep a Look-out
Get into the habit of checking your tyres regularly. These weekly or fortnightly examinations should look for signs of damage or distortion in the tyres, but, more importantly, they will give you a good understanding of what your tyres look like when they are in great condition. This will help you to spot the earliest signs of damage and wear, which means that you can take steps to repair the issue while it is still minimal – and begin saving up for a replacement set of tyres, which will be needed sooner rather than later! If you are looking to buy tyres in Kirkcaldy, you should visit Fife Autocentre for a consultation.
Load Bearing
Pay attention to the weight limits of your tyres. These are marked on the tyres sidewall, forming the last two or three digits of the long code in which is embedded a wealth of information, from the speed rating to the date of manufacture to the tyre’s size and specifications. The two or three digit number relays to a table and a kg weight which is the maximum weight the tyre should be subjected to. It is a simple matter to find out the maximum weight that your tyres can bear and make a note of it for the future.
Tyre Pressure
Modern tyres absolutely must be kept at the right pressure, unlike their older counterparts which could be over- or underinflated more or less at the whim of the driver. This is because the science behind tyre manufacturing is so much more advanced nowadays. In fact, the correct inflation of your tyres is now so important that it has been enshrined in law in the form of the MOT test checklist – a notation of roadworthiness which your car should always uphold.
Tread Deep
Your tread depth is a good indicator of how well your car will hold to the road in inclement conditions. The legal limit for tread depth is to have 1.6mm of tread over at least the middle three-quarters of the contact surface of your tyre, but motoring experts recommend not allowing your tread depth to fall below 3mm over the entire contact surface. New tyres have tread depth of between 8mm and 10mm, so driving your tyres to 3mm, and then planning to purchase your new set of tyres will be a good long time – enough time to save up for the best possible set of tyres!
Balance and Aligned
Keep your tyres balanced and aligned to make them last longer and run more smoothly no matter whether you are heading to Kirkcaldy in Fife, Scotland for some sightseeing or fishing, or to London to catch a West End show or enjoy a boat tour along the Thames. These two features, often paired despite being quite different services (alignment refers to ensuring that all four tyres pull in the same direction, while balancing means ensuring that all the tyres are carrying an even weight), can be completed in just a few moments, thanks to computerised advances which make both a doddle.
Drive With Care
Finally, always drive with care. Maintain a steady speed below the speed limit, avoid sudden acceleration and deceleration, and avoid rough or untreated roads if you can. This might sound a little boring, but it is a great way to ensure that your tyres run smoothly, in good condition, for a long time.
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