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Tyres are among the most important parts of a car. Yet they remain one of the most neglected. Tyre care is quick and easy, and regular checks will save you time both time and money and help keep you out of trouble on the road.
The Importance Of Correct Tyre Pressures
Tyres are crucial to a vehicle¹s performance in the following areas:
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SAFETY |
Because tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, they play an important part in braking. Tyres that are not correctly inflated and/or are worn affects the braking distance of a vehicle. |
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COMFORT |
Again because tyres are the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, they also affect the comfort of the occupants. Over-inflated tyres cause the ride to be bumpy, while under-inflated tyres gives the ride a soggy feel and makes the steering heavy. |
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HANDLING |
Incorrectly-inflated tyres or uneven tyres pressures in each wheel seriously affect the handling of the vehicle, making it difficult or impossible to drive or brake in a straight line or steer the vehicle around corners. |
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ECONOMY |
Improper inflation, especially under-inflation, takes a toll on the fuel economy because the vehicle will need more power to accelerate. The steering system, whether powered or not will also be under more stress. |
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What Your Tyres Tell You
By looking at the tread patterns you will be able to tell if your tyres have been correctly inflated and worn. The diagram below gives a rough illustration of the 3 common kinds of tyre wear.
Simple Tyre Care
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DAILY VISUAL CHECK |
1) |
check that all tyres have about the same inflation pressure |
2) |
check the sidewalls of the tyres for cracks or unusual bulges |
3) |
check and remove any foreign objects that might puncture your tyre, eg stones, nails, etc. |
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MONTHLY TYRE PRESSURE CHECK |
1) |
Use a proper tyre pressure guage to measure the tyre pressure. |
2) |
Check pressure and inflate when the tyres are cold. (A hot tyre will show inaccurate reading due to heat expansion) |
3) |
It takes as long as 4 hours for a tyre to cool down. It¹s a good idea to check the tyre pressure first thing in the morning. |
4) |
Don¹t forget to inflate your spare tyre too! |
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ROTATE TYRES EVERY 5000km. |
1) |
Visit a reputable tyre shop for tyre rotation. |
2) |
Check your car owner¹s handbook for rotating sequence. |
3) |
Have your tyres balanced at the same time. |
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