How to Extend the Life of Your Car's Tyres

While the condition of your tyres can sometimes be overlooked, the necessity of care for the sole element of the car that meets the road cannot be overstated. Tyres may not live up to their promised guarantee of 100% tread life, as we've seen in our tread wear testing.

As tyres are the pieces of a vehicle that directly contact the road, they require special attention. Fortunately, it is neither difficult nor time-consuming to do so. However, automobile owners can do a few easy things to ensure that their tyres last. Here are seven of them.

1. Inflate Them Properly
   
   
   Checking that your tyres are inflated to the proper pressure is one of the most crucial measures you can take to preserve their longevity. Look for a label on the driver's door jamb or check your car's owner's manual to determine the recommended tyre pressure. Tyres that are either over-inflated or under-inflated will cause more wear and tear, as well as compromise your safety on the road.
   
   
   Tyres that have been over-inflated lost traction and get degraded severely around the middle tread due to the excess air pressure. However, if your tyres are under-inflated all of the time, too much of the surface comes into contact with the road, causing overheating, excessive wear and tear, and sometimes blowouts. Therefore, consider investing in a decent digital tyre pressure gauge to get accurate readings from your tyres.
   
   
2. Regularly Check Tyre Alignment
   
   
   When you see uneven tyre wear or the car doesn't stay true when directing the steering wheel straight, you'll know it's time for a wheel alignment. Take it to a tyre fitter for a wheel alignment and ask them to rotate the tyres while they're at it if that happens or if your front wheel hits something hard like an edge of the road.
   
   
3. Rotate Them When Necessary
   
   
   When travelling along the road, not all car tyres get the same use. In a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the front tyres, for example, are subject to higher wear and tear than the rear tyres. A rear-wheel-drive car, on the other hand, has the opposite problem. As the car's computer transfers the work from one tyre to another, even all-wheel-drive tyres are used unevenly.
   
   
   Rotating your tyres when necessary is one of the most acceptable ways to extend their lives. To make sure you're doing it frequently, some folks recommend rotating them every other oil change. Tyre rotation is recommended every 5,000-8,000 kilometres, according to experts.
   
   
4. Avoid Speeding And Rough Terrains
   
   
   Although it may be entertaining to drive quickly or perform complex manoeuvres with your automobile, keep in mind that the more you push your vehicle, the more wear and tear it will suffer. Driving recklessly can easily damage your tyres and shorten their lifespan. Avoid making the infamous doughnut manoeuvre, as well as any other risky driving habits. Also, be careful not to contact curbs when turning, as this can destroy the sidewalls of your tyres. To summarise, drive the manner the driving schools recommend, even if it is less exciting.
   
   
5. Keep Them Clean Along With Your Wheels
   
   
   It's also crucial to keep the tyres clean and free of UV radiation. To prevent corrosive dirt from accumulating on the wheels and tyres, you must wash them. Similarly, you may protect the tyres from UV rays by using a quality protection product or parking them in enclosed areas.
   
   
6. Inspect Wheel And Suspension Components Regularly
   
   
   Treadwear causes tyres to need to be replaced more frequently. When you have your tyres evaluated regularly, you can spot wear patterns before they become damaged. This also allows you to spot lousy wear patterns, and suspension components and have them fixed as soon as possible.
   
   
7. Dry Rot Should Be Avoided At All Costs
   
   
   Dry rot, which causes cracking or splitting in the tyre's walls or tread, can force your tyres to retire early. Your tyres are more prone to develop a leak or blow out on the road if they have dry rot. The two most significant contributions to this condition are ozone and ultraviolet light. Even if you can't altogether avoid them, you can assist in slowing down the process by preventing parking your car in direct sunlight as much as possible.
   
   
   Also, if your vehicle is not used frequently, transfer it from time to time, as many cars were during COVID-19 stay-at-home directives. Moving the car keeps the tyres from becoming flat and settling in one position.
   
   

New tyres can be costly. It is better to take proper care of your tyres, and the above tips will help you maintain your tyres and keep them moving for the long run. This is the ultimate guideline to increase the life of your tyre.