Looking after your car tyres

Your car’s tyres are very important – they are the only things in contact with the road at any time, and it is imperative that they are in a good condition. Tyres which are not in good condition can reduce your car’s grip on the road, particularly in icy weather, and can lead to tyre blow-outs, which can be highly dangerous.

With wintry weather abound recently, it’s been a good time to remind ourselves of the role that tyres play in our motoring. We might curse when we need to shell out for their renewal and repair, but a little time spent caring for them make a lot of difference.

Here are some tips to help you maintain one of your car’s most important parts

1) Check your tyre pressure at least once a month. You can check what pressure your car’s tyres should be at Tyre Pressure Search, or you can consult your owner’s manual. Incorrectly inflated tyres can mean increased wear and tear which leads to blowouts, and can affect your car’s performance. You should also check the pressure of your car’s tyres before a long journey.

2) Be careful where you park. Going up and down kerbs, tyres half-hanging off the kerb, and parking regularly on rough surfaces will all add extra wear and tear to the tyres. Try and park somewhere level and smooth if you can.

3) Change them for the road conditions. Different tyres perform differently with snow and ice than in warm, dry conditions. For wintry weather, you may have to change your tyres for winter tyres, which should perform better with snow and ice than regular tyres. Ask your tyre shop to see if seasonal tyres are recommended for your car, or check your owner’s manual.

4) Check the tyre’s tread. The legal limit for tread depth is at least 1.6mm, which must be across at least 3/4s of the tyre’s width, all the way around the tyre. If you’re not sure, or think they’re looking a bit shallow in places, then a trip to your local tyre shop can help. You should do a visual tyre check regularly – you should not wait until your annual MOT to get this checked out. Make sure when you get new tyres fitted that the tyre shop include wheel balancing too.

5) Check your spare wheel regularly. Make sure that it is clean and dry and is being stored so it doesn’t get knocked around. You should make sure the spare wheel is roadworthy, and you know how to access it – you never know when you might need it!

If you are unlucky enough to experience a tyre blow out, then you can help yourself by slowing down and trying to maintain a straight path. There is more information on dealing with a tyre emergency at http://smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/Driving_emergencies/blowout.htm

There will be a section in your owner’s manual about tyres and tyre care and you should familiarise yourself with your car’s specific requirements. Taking care of your tyres can be costly, but what price on your and your family’s safety?

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