Tyre maintenance - Do it until it becomes automatic say the experts If you do anything for long enough it becomes automatic. Driving can be like that, although of course it shouldn't. Still, consider how many times you arrive at point B with the feeling like you drove there on autopilot. While you were checked-out, however, many hundreds of moving parts on your vehicle continued to play their role with pitch-perfect timing, and key among these are your tyres. “Tyres are the sole parts of a vehicle that come into direct contact with the road. So when it comes down to driving performance, road handling and safety, it’s safe to say that they play a critical role. At Tiger Wheel & Tyre we remind our customers of this fact daily, and emphasise how very important tyre maintenance is to ensure their continued safety,” said Joe du Plooy, Group Marketing Executive. “It might seem tiresome, but a little tyre maintenance can save you from some pretty serious consequences and, if you do it often enough, it too will become automatic.” The consequences du Plooy referred to range from costly tyre replacements, at best, to tyre blowouts at high speed, at worst. Clearly, a little time investment in tyre maintenance is well worth the effort and here’s some advice from the experts on what that should include. Tiger Wheel & Tyre’s top tyre safety tips - Fit the right tyres. This is the company’s number one safety tip. Tyre safety begins with having the right tyre size and type for your vehicle and the type of driving you do.
- Inspect monthly. Walk around your vehicle and check tyres for visible wear and tear – cracks, lumps, cuts, scars, nails and the like.
- Check tread depth. The legal tread depth limit is 1mm, but if you’re paying attention, you’ll notice a change in road holding before tyres reach this limit.
- Maintain the spare. If you do have a spare make sure that the tread is good; it’s properly inflated; and you have the tools available to fit it, if required.
- Maintain correct tyre pressure. This is the simplest way to extend tyre life, improve petrol consumption, and ensure optimum road holding. Manufacturer tyre pressure recommendations are located in your owner’s manual, and driver-side door panel.
- Inflate with nitrogen. This will ensure your tyres stay inflated for longer, run cooler, and last up to 20% longer than if you inflate with air alone.
- Rotate, balance and align regularly. Do this at least every 10,000km and more often if you notice telltale signs of vibration, steering pulling to one side, and/or uneven tyre wear.
“We’re here to help. If you don’t know the first thing about what to look for when purchasing or inspecting tyres, let us help you or do it for you. Our technicians are highly trained professionals who do get excited about tyre safety, and we have stores nationwide, so we’re easy to locate,” Du Plooy concluded. To learn more about tyre safety, shop online, or find your nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre, visit the website www.twt.to and remember, online shoppers now have the ability to “Book A Bay” online, to have their newly purchased products fitted and services performed at the time and store of their choosing.
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