14 Tips You Need To Know To Maximize Tyre Life
Tires are one of the most important parts of your vehicle. They provide the traction and grip that you need to drive safely, but they can also be affected by the conditions in which you use them. It’s important to keep track of how your tires are performing and if necessary, replace them before they become dangerous.
Here are 14 tips you can use for maximizing tyre life:
1. Garage storage
Tyres are best stored in a cool, dry place that is out of direct sunlight and away from sources of heat such as radiators. Don’t store them in damp or wet places either as this will cause the rubber to rot quickly, causing irregular wear patterns on your tyres.
Also avoid storing your tires near chemicals or other pollutants as these could damage the rubber when exposed over time.
2. Off-road conditions
When you’re driving on pavement, your tyre tread is constantly moving over and around small rocks, pebbles and other debris. This helps to wear the tread down evenly so that it lasts longer.
But when you take your car off-road—whether it’s for a weekend of camping in the woods or just going through an unpaved parking lot—you can cause damage to the tread by driving over sharp rocks or even large tree roots (if you’re not careful). This can lead to blowouts and potentially dangerous situations on the road if your car suddenly loses its ability to brake or steer properly because of damaged tyres.
3. Deflate tyres for soft ground conditions
If you’re planning to drive through soft ground, it’s a good idea to deflate your tyres by removing the valve cap and letting the air out. This makes sure that you don’t get stuck in soft ground. However, deflating tyres for normal road conditions (dry and wet) or hard ground conditions is not recommended as it causes more wear on your tyres.
It’s also not recommended for off-road conditions because the tread pattern on your tyre can become damaged in case of sharp rocks or thorns when driving at low pressure.
4. Tire Pressure & Temperature
The second thing you need to know is that tire pressure and temperature are related. Tire pressures increase with temperature, so the best time to check your tire pressure is when the tires are cold. You can also check them when they’re hot or warm, but it’s more important that they’re already at their lowest point before you do so.
5. Hard acceleration
Hard acceleration is a common cause of tyre damage and wear. This can be due to the vehicle’s speed and weight, or the way you accelerate.
If you accelerate hard from a standing start, it puts more stress on your tyres than creeping away gently. If you’re driving on rough roads or wet ones, this is even more true – because in addition to accelerating hard, you’re also pushing the car into uneven surfaces that cause extra vibration.
If you live in an area with icy roads (or even just snow), then slowing down for corners could be dangerous – but it’s also very likely to eat up your tyres faster if they’re wet or icy!
6. Driving at high speeds
Check your car’s speedometer. Drive at a speed that is safe for the road conditions. You can check your car’s manufacturer guidelines for recommended speeds, but it is also important to keep in mind weather and road conditions.
For example, if there is rain on the road or if you’re driving on an icy patch of highway, it may be wise not to exceed 45 mph. The same goes if there are other cars around you: if they are moving slower than you and it looks like they could stop quickly in case of an emergency situation (like a sudden stoplight), then you should slow down as well!
7. Correct wheel alignment and balancing to maximize tire life
You can’t have a healthy relationship with your car if you neglect it. The same goes for tires. Keeping your tires properly aligned and balanced is one of the most important things you can do to ensure their longevity, and it also helps prevent uneven wear that makes them more prone to blowouts or blowouts at high speeds.
If you have any questions about wheel alignment or wheel balance, talk to your mechanic before making an appointment or buying new tires.
8. Overloading Your Car Also Puts Weight On Your Tires
You may think that loading your car up to the brim with stuff will extend your tyre life, but the reality is quite the opposite. Overloading a vehicle can damage its suspension and cause uneven tyre wear. This means that if you overload your car one side of each tyre will be carrying more weight than the other, causing premature wear and tear.
9. Rotating the tyres regularly to increase their lifespan
If you want to maximize the lifespan of your tires, be sure to rotate them regularly. This means rotating the direction that they face every 6 months, which will help maintain balance and prevent uneven wear. The best way to ensure that this happens is by using a wheel alignment tool like a tire horn for all four wheels so that you can find out which way each wheel needs adjusting.
10. Keeping up to date on regular maintenance schedules
Check the tyre pressure once a month. This will ensure that they are at the right level to support normal driving and handling, reducing wear on the tyre tread and contact patch with the road surface.
Inspect for signs of damage such as bulges in sidewalls or cracks in treads every month (for example, by visual inspection). If these are found on one or more tyres then it may be necessary to replace them immediately because they could fail at any time during use which could lead to serious consequences including death or injury if you were driving at high speed at the time.
Inspect for signs of abnormal wear every month (for example by visual inspection). If any irregular wear patterns are noticed then it may be possible that there has been some form of fault with an individual tyre as well as needing replacement immediately due to safety reasons.
11. Consider a Wheel Alignment service
You probably don’t think about wheel alignment all that often, but it can be an important part of saving money on fuel and tires. In short, wheel alignment is the process of making sure your car’s wheels are parallel to each other. The main reason for doing this is to ensure that your tires wear evenly.
If you drive with misaligned wheels, one or both tires can be used up much faster than they should be. And if you have a flat tire because of it, you might have difficulty getting back on the road (as well as having to spend money on a tow truck).
Alignment also affects handling: when your car isn’t aligned correctly, it’ll feel like someone has swapped out all four wheels with unbalanced replacements.
12. Ignoring tire problems or wear and tear will damage your tires
Neglecting to check tyres regularly can cause damage to the wheels and tyres. It is best if you take your car to a mechanic or tire shop for regular checkups so they can ensure that everything is in good working order.
Road hazards such as potholes and nails on the road cause punctures in your tires which may need replacing. Ensure that you are aware of any hazards around you before driving over them.
Using incorrect air pressure in the tires can also lead to flat spots on your tyres which will require replacing them sooner than expected. Always use an accurate gauge when checking the air pressure levels of each wheel on your car or truck!
13. Never use car jacks on the side of your tyres. Use approved axle stands only
When you want to jack up your car, use a set of axle stands that are designed to support the weight of a vehicle and safely lift it up off its wheels. Axle stands are more stable than using a jack underneath your car’s chassis which can cause damage to the underside of your vehicle that is not covered by insurance.
Axle stands should be used when changing tires or checking wheel alignment or bearings as they are designed for this purpose and provide better support than using an ordinary floor jack.
14. Apply the three-second rule while driving behind other vehicles
The three-second rule is a well-known trick for keeping safe and maintaining good distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. It’s simple: don’t let your car get closer than three seconds behind the vehicle in front of it. If you do, then there’s a risk that you could enter their blind spot and risk being hit by them if they turn left or right.
Bottom-Line
You can maximize your tyre life by paying attention to the conditions in which you drive and maintain your car. We hope you found this information helpful, and I’m sure you can use it to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape.
