For starters, before you venture boldly forth into the holiday-bound melee, check your tyre tread. The minimum legal tread depth limit in South Africa is 1mm, so make sure you have at least twice that much in reserve.
"Tread depth directly impacts your car's traction and grip on the road. The less you have, the greater your braking distance will be and the more likely your car is to skid when driving in the rain," explains Joe du Plooy, Marketing Executive of Tiger Wheel & Tyre.
Next, make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure and don't just assume you know what this is. If you're driving stock tyres, check the manufacturer's recommended pressures inside the sill of the driver's door or inside the fuel cap. For aftermarket tyres, check your tyre manual or ask the dealer who installed them.
Remember heavy loads put extra strain on your tyres, so if your car is jam-packed with luggage make sure you adjust the tyre pressure. Tyre failure can occur due to overloading, so check your owner's manual for recommended tyre pressures for "heavy loads" before you pack everything but the kitchen sink.
Adds du Plooy, "The correct tyre pressure is absolutely critical. Over-inflate tyres and they'll erode faster at the centre. Under-inflate them and they'll wear out quicker on the outside; be more likely to blow-out while driving; and will also increase your vehicle's fuel consumption."
Furthermore tyres running on nitrogen don't lose pressure as quickly as tyres inflated with air. Inflating your tyres with nitrogen can extend tyre life by up to 20%.
Of course checking tread depth and pressure also applies to that lifeline inside the boot, on the back door or under the tailgate of your vehicle - your spare tyre.
Finally, if your car feels like it's pulling to one side, shakes while driving or if it has been more than 10 000km since its last wheel balancing and alignment, it's time to let Tiger Wheel & Tyre attend to this. Doing so will improve your vehicle's handling and performance and greatly extend the life of your tyres.
If your pre-holiday tyre inspection reveals that your tyres do in fact need replacing,
head down to Tiger Wheel & Tyre and take advantage of the company's holiday promotion.
From 20 March until 27 April, Tiger Wheel & Tyre is offering you a free Weber Smokey Joe braai, when you buy four or more Hankook, Yokohama, Continental, Michelin or BFGoodrich tyres, sizes 15-inch or larger.
At just 37cm in size, the lightweight, portable Smokey Joe braai is the perfect passenger in your car, a great holiday companion and another excellent way to extend your summer.
For more information and to locate your nearest Tiger Wheel & Tyre, visit www.twt.to.
