It is summer time and almost everyone with a car will take at least one trip away from home to see the big city or paddle in the warm sea as the tide drifts in or out. But before you load everyone into the car along with a massive picnic hamper – food always tastes better in the fresh air! – make sure you do these five summer tyre care checks.
Tread depth
Your tread depth is vital for keeping your car anchored firmly to the road, especially if you should be subject to one of those sudden summer storms that can arrive without warning and drench everyone and everything around in five minutes, before vanishing again like a slightly soggy illusion. You can check your tread depth with a 20p-piece. If you find your tread depth is too low, you should replace your tyres as soon as you can. Explore the extensive range of tyres in Knottingley from Reg Greenwood to find the perfect replacement tyres for your needs.
Inflation Fluctuations
Your tyre pressure will change with changes of temperature, seeming to become overinflated in very cold weather and underinflated in warmer temperatures. While most tyres can handle some small variations in temperature, you should still be aware that it is something to look out for, and make a habit of checking your air – or at least taking a reading of your inflation levels – each time you stop for fuel while driving to your holiday destination.
Weight
Tyres are designed to work very well in certain circumstances, but they can fail if these circumstances are not met – such as excessive weight being piled onto the tyres, causing them to operate under strain. This excess weight presses down on the tyre, forcing the pressure inside the tyre to rise, causing strain and stress on the materials of the tyre and generally worsening any small or minor weaknesses until they become large problems to you.
Speed
Speed is another issue that some drivers don’t consider when planning their getaways. Tyres have speed ratings in the same way they have weight ratings (and both are found on the tyres itself, as part of the long alphanumeric code embossed onto each tyre’s sidewall) and it is important not to exceed these. Tyres that are forced to spin faster than is optimal can overheat and weaken, sometimes failing catastrophically – particularly when they disintegrate while travelling at high speeds. As well as the safety factor, it can be uncomfortable to drive on tyres to made to operate at higher speeds than they have been designed for.
General Condition
Finally, make sure you stay aware of the age and general condition of your tyres at all times. It can be all too easy to become complacent about your tyres and miss the early warning signs of damage. Spotting these signs gives you the chance to have the small problems corrected before they become major, and expensive, issues. Tyres will usually last anywhere from five to seven years, and even the most gently used tyres will lose flexibility and condition when they get older than this: ten-year-old tyres should be changed as soon as possible for maximum road safety.
