WHAT…
So.. How many of you actually know what you’re looking for
when you check your tyres? I’ll be the first to admit that before I started
working at Merityre I had no idea that the tread on your tyre could wear
unevenly, or that you could actually repair a puncture rather than having to
buy a brand new tyre. Well in this entry I will try to explain exactly what to
look for when you check your tyres.
WHY…
It should go without saying that your tyres are a
fundamental part of your vehicle as they are the only parts which have contact
with the road (hopefully)!! It is therefore incredibly important that your
tyres are in a safe and working condition when driving yourself/friends/family
or anyone else around. You never know how many times your tyres may have saved
you and your vehicle from serious accidents or damage already.
Did you know that WORN TYRES:
·
Are unsafe
·
Do not give you the adhesion to stay safe on the
road
·
Can be illegal… Penalty points here we come
·
Can burst, leading to serious accidents
·
Increase fuel consumption!
·
Pick up foreign objects more easily which can
lead to punctures
·
Can lead to other more serious problems with
your car
·
Can increase the possibility of prosecution
after an accident and increase insurance premiums.
·
Will give you an uncomfortable ride
WHEN…
So firstly, when should you check your tyres? Well there
isn’t really a set amount of time between when you should do checks, but we
would recommend every week, and before undertaking any long journeys. This
means that if you do have any problems, you will spot them quickly and
hopefully avoid driving around on potentially dangerous tyres.
HOW…
The first step is to turn on your engine (with the handbrake
on and out of gear), and turn the steering wheel so it locks on one side, then
turn the engine off again (this is will depend if your vehicle has power
steering). This allows you to see the full breadth of the tread on your front
tyres which is important as it allows you to notice if there is any uneven wear
across the tyre.
(Many modern vehicle
tyres are very wide and the innermost edge of these can wear right down while
the outside edge can appear faultless. This can also occur on tyres if the steering
and suspension alignment is out on the vehicle. It is very important to check
the full width of the tread!)
LOOK FOR…
·
Now you check your tread depth. The easiest way to do
this is using a tread depth gage, but if you don’t have one of these you can
use the tread
wear indicators which are located
within the grooves of the treaded part of the tyre. These are small raised
blocks about 10mm in length and 2mm in height which are situated all around the
tyre (so you should be able to find them). The legal limit for tread depth is
1.6mm and the indicators are raised to 1.6mm to 2mm. Therefore if any part of the
tread area is running flush with the indicators, your tyre has worn to its lowest level and needs replacing.
·
You need to make sure that you check as much of
the circumference of the tyre as possible as sometimes one section of the tread
will be fine, and another section will be worn. This may mean that the tyre is distorted.
You need to check for any material degradation in the tyre, for example cracking and
perishing. At the same time
look for any deep
or long cuts and any foreign objects. Your car drives over lots of
different surfaces so you may see bits of stones here and there, but any object
which does not come out easily may have penetrated the tyre and be causing
pressure loss (puncture).
·
Now have a look at the side walls of
the tyres. The side walls are prone to damage from impacts, chafing against
curbs, under inflation and tearing. You will be looking for cuts, abrasions or
missing rubber. When a tyre has a puncture or has been run under
inflated for a while it can cause pinching between the wheel and the road
surface (run flat damage). This can be seen as an abrasion mark running the
entire circumference and worn letters and numbers on the side walls. When this
occurs your tyre will need replacing.
·
Bulges can be detected by running the flat of your
hand over the entire surface of your sidewall. A bulge represents serious
damage to the structural integrity of the tyre.
·
In the outer rim of the wheel you will find the
valve. Check this carefully for any deterioration of the material. Ensure caps are
fitted. By moving the valve stem from side to side, look for cracking of the
rubber around the base.
Repeat all of these processes for each tyre and don’t forget
the spare!
So, for a quick recap:
Your tyres need attention if they have:
·
Low tread depth
·
Deterioration of the rubber (cracking or
perishing)
·
Uneven tread wear (distortion of tyre)
·
Deep cuts or sections of tread missing
·
Embedded foreign objects
·
Side wall damage and bulges
·
Damaged or worn valves
So.. Now you know why it is so important to check your
tyres, and not just the tread depth, but the whole tyre. If you find this all a
bit too much, then just bring your car to your local Merityre Branch www.merityre.co.uk/find_a_centre.htm
and we’ll do it for you absolutely free. We will also give you advice on when
you may need new tyres and give you a Merityre Tyre Check Report on their
condition. You can also have a FREE Wheel Alignment check which will show up
any problems and help to prevent your tyres from wearing unevenly.
For information about our Club Card Plus, go to our website
at www.merityre.co.uk or ask at your
local branch.
The next entry will explain how to check tyre pressures.
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