Drakes Garage

Tyres are a perishable component of the vehicle, and they continuously go through wear and tear. Therefore, there is always a need for tyre replacement at appropriate times. But, tyres can be expensive and frequent replacements can hurt your overall maintenance budget. However, with some routine care and attention, you can ensure your tyre’s longevity and bring down the replacement frequency. Additionally, well-maintained tyres will ensure the optimised performance of your vehicle. Tyre maintenance seems like a professional task but is not. Only a few aspects need occasional visits, but most of the maintenance work could be done with little effort. You don’t even need heavy tools for this job, just some entry-level machinery, and you are good to go. Here is a beginner’s guide to assist you through the maintenance process. Maintain the recommended tyre pressure The tyre pressure is crucial because it ensures that your tyres don’t get flat at crucial times. If you drive on low tyre pressure, the outer walls will eventually rupture, and you will face the issue of slow punctures. In case of tyre pressure is too high, the risk of tyres bursting when they are speeding will increase. Both these situations are detrimental to vehicle handling and passenger’s safety. Also, be it a slow puncture or a rapid puncture, the need for replacement will arise. The recommended tyre pressure for the vehicle is mentioned either on the fuel chamber or the driver’s door. Just take note of the optimum value and screw in a pressure gauge on the tyre’s valve. Take note of the readings and inflate your Firestone Tyres Shiptonthorpe accordingly to bring the pressure to the recommended level. Additionally, always fill up your tyres with nitrogen gas as opposed to normal compressed air. Nitrogen is relatively cooler and stays in the tyre for a longer time. This will lower your chances of a slow puncture. Incorporate efficient driving methods Usually, tyres suffer a great deal of damage due to poor driving methods. With some minor driving improvements, you can add a few years to your tyre’s life. Driving on inclined planes: When your vehicle is climbing a slope, ensure that you switch to a 4WD. That way, the engine will supply even power to all four wheels, and the rear wheels won’t be dragged throughout the process. Ascending on a 2WD hurts the rear tyre’s treads, and they wear out soon. Use of brakes and accelerators: The brakes and the accelerator is meant to be used alternatively. Most of the time, people use them simultaneously, which puts a great deal of pressure on the tyres Shiptonthorpe. The hydraulic pressure brakes combined with the rotating wheels damage the inner walls. Driving on poor roads: The patches and potholes present on poor roads put a lot of pressure on the tyre’s sidewalls. On top of this, if you speed through these conditions, too much pressure will build-up, and the sidewalls will get damaged beyond repair. Visit a garage for wheel balancing and alignment It is recommended to take your vehicle for balancing and alignment every 10000 km to ensure a proper form of your tyres. Balancing is the process where the load on each wheel is accurately mapped, and accordingly, the weight difference is managed on the alloys. This is done to ensure proper weight distribution between the tyres and maintain their good condition. Similarly, over time, the wheels get loose on the axles and move out of the car’s frame. This causes a slight sideward movement in the tyres, which is detrimental to the treads. Therefore, professional garages use reliable software to pinpoint the wheel’s original position on the axle and restore them accordingly.