When you drive, do you ever look at your tires? As a safe driver, one of the utmost importance is to look at the condition of your tires. Neglected tires can kill.
How to check your car tired before your journey? What are the types of things you should be looking for with your tires?
Both tire and vehicle manufacturer will ask you to look out for:
o Choose the most appropriate size in relation to the wheel rim.
o Look for a tire that is easy to be mounted and removed
o Choose a tire according to the speed that you drive.
o Select a design and construction that will be appropriate to the type of work you do with your vehicle.
o Has the ability to efficiently disperse water efficiently and therefore reduce the chance of aquaplaning.
o Can withstand a certain degree of abuse without any adverse effects.
o The vehicle weight ratio to tire with contact area of tire and its grip
o Has comfortable ride and not noisy when it rolls
o Extended mileage without sacrificing the quality or performance.
Tread depth is important as it determines the ability of the tire to disperse water when we drive in wet conditions. Tread pattern that is not deep enough cannot dispersed water fast enough. It will develop a cushion of water between its contact surface and the road. This phenomenon is known as ‘Aquaplaning’. The vehicle will literally float on the water. Legally, thread depth of 1.6mm is safe. Beyond that, its ability to disperse water will reduce and becomes ineffective. Look for signs are tears, lumps, bumps, splits and cuts. This means it it time to get a replacement.
Tire pressures are crucial when it comes to characteristics of the tire. Correct air pressure will determine the shape and performance. Incorrect pressure among all the four tires will greatly determine how stable the vehicle will be. The different in tire pressure will create what is called, a ‘Slip Angle.’ It means the rate of creep of a tire across the road surface when the vehicle it is fitted to is cornering, and when you have a difference across an axle it will be dangerous. It will not be noticeable in town driving. However, look out when you are on the highway. The tires may suddenly come off the rims and go faster than you do!
Tire blow-out means sudden and total deflation of a tire due to the collapse of its structure. A high chance of this happening is highly due to negligence and lack of awareness to the tire. It includes maintaining the shape and profile of the tire. Driving with under inflated tire will cause a bulge and with low pressure, it will distort even more and begin to ripple as it rotates. This rippling effect causes friction and friction causes heat. Driving long distance will create even more heat. Eventually there will come a point when the tire will ignite and blow up.
Do look for the age of the tire. A tire that has perished will show signs of small crazed pattern in the rubber. This is a first sign of its weakness. The way the sun causes sunburn, Sunshine does the same and salt sprays are the biggest culprits when it comes to perishing rubber. Caravans, trailers and used cars fall into this category. Be vary of their tires.
Drive carefully and do not hit the raised platforms at the side of the road. If you do hit them, it may look fine on the surface outside but on the inside, it is detrimental. On the inside its ply-cords and layer separation of the rubber banding would have probably damage. Severity depends on the speed and how hard you hit. The best way to check is to remove the tire from the rim.
One last thing, look after something that most people neglect and it will quietly repay you for your deeds. Tires. Read similar car issues.
William blogs here William’s automotive blog
William has been in the automotive industry since 1995 and brings with him vast experience of Car issues. The “car man” as often referred to among his peers.
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