Summer is on its way which means that most parts of the country can expect rainfall in the coming months. Don’t wait until the first summer rain before you check if your car’s tyres are still in good condition when driving on wet and slippery surfaces. Looking after your vehicle’s tyres is vital to your safety, here are a few tips to ensure that your tyres are in a roadworthy condition:
Age of the tyres: If you buy a second-hand car, make sure that you know how old the tyres are. The general rule of thumb is to never use tyres that are more than six years old, however, it is important to make sure that your tyres are checked every time you take your vehicle for service.
Tread depth: The legal limit for car tyre tread depth is 1.6mm across 75% of the tyre. The deeper the tread, however, the more grip your vehicle will have on the road. Should the tread be less than 3mm, you should consider changing your vehicle’s tyres. You can check the read depth of your vehicle’s tyres with a depth gauge, which are somewhat inexpensive should you wish to purchase one.
Over/under inflating: Both over and under-inflated tyres can be somewhat detrimental to the condition of your car’s tyres. This can cause your vehicle’s tyres to be worn out prematurely and result in them only lasting half the lifetime. Make sure that you read your car’s user manual to find out what your vehicle’s tyre pressure should be. In addition, make sure that you get your tyre pressure checked on a regular basis.
Wheel Alignment: You can tell that your car’s wheel alignment is off if you feel like your vehicle’s steering wheel is pulling in a certain direction while you are driving. Lightly hold the steering and if the car starts pulling either left or right, you will need to get your wheels re-aligned.
Wheel Balancing: When a wheel turns, the weight along the rotating axis needs to be properly balanced. If this is not happening, there can be wobbling and vibrations. Wheel balancing equalizes the combined weights of the car’s tyres so that it can run smoothly. It is recommended to do a wheel balance every 10 000 kms.
Wheel Rotation: This is the practice of swapping the front and back tyres. The front and rear axles of your vehicle differ greatly, which affects the distribution of weight on the wheels. Depending on whether the car is front- or rear-wheel driven will determine which has more weight on it. It is recommended that a re-balance is done every 8 000 kms.
Your new vehicle will come with brand new tyres: Let Iemas’ vehicle finance solution put you in the driver’s seat. Remember, Iemas not only offers competitive and affordable vehicle finance options, but we can also assist with refinancing your vehicle or find your dream car on your behalf. We are as proud of your new wheels as you are, which is why Iemas also provides short-term insurance for those unfortunate incidents. Contact Iemas Financial Services on 0861 043 627 to speak to a vehicle finance consultant or visit our website www.iemasfinancialservices.co.za
Read the related blog articles here: Keep yourself and your vehicle safe when driving in a heavy rain or Save on your vehicle expenses by improving your driving habits.
Adapted from: https://compareguru.co.za/7-must-know-facts-about-tyres/