Beware Of Wear On Your Car Tyres
by Brian, under Cars, Safety & Advice.
Car tyres should be checked regularly for signs of wear. It is especially important to pay attention to them because they are a constant point of contact in between the road and the car. Deteriorated treads or damaged sidewalls are a sure sign of a potential accident.
There are a set of legal requirements for most tyres, these are:
a) The minimum depth for the treads should be at least 1.6mm across the full circumference of the tire. Any bald patches that are under the minimum requirement are prohibited to be driven on roads. After any emergency breaking or skids make sure to check the tyre for any bald patches.
b) A tyre should also be properly inflated to maintain correct air pressure. If you’re not sure what pressure this is then you can consult the manufactures handbook to get the right pressure. This is a legal requirement but it can also improve the handling of the vehicle and will help reduce fuel consumptions.
c) All of the tyres on the car must be functioning properly and in proper condition. If one of the tyres needs replacement then it will have to be in similar condition as the rest. If none is available then all the tires will have to be replaced.
A number of factors can affect how fast a tyre wears, some of these causes are:
The Make-up of Car Tyres
All cheap car tyres are made differently in order to meet specific criterion. Many long-lasting tyres are created from an extremely hard rubber compound. This rubber is louder when it comes into contact with the road. Softer tyres will be quite but they will wear faster. Tyre specialists will be able to describe the various types of tyres and recommend which one is best suited for your car.
The Positions of a Car Tyre
Back tyres usually wear out slower than front tyres, this is especially true if the vehicle is a front wheel drive. Additional wear is also caused through steering the front wheels. On a 4X4 vehicle the front tyres will last for roughly 20,000 miles. Back tyres however can last twice that amount.
A Vehicle’s Weight
If the vehicle is heavy the tyres will wear faster because the weight puts additional pressure on them.
Pressure of Tyres
If the pressure of a tyre is below normal standards it will actual wear faster due to its high operating temperature. In addition the rubber will also flex causing it to wear even further. Over inflation is also extremely dangerous because there is less contact is from the road and the tyre. Too much air pressure will also stretch the rubber beyond its limits possibly causing it to explode.
Speed
High speeds can increase the temperature from the friction on the road which in turn accelerates its rate of wear.
Remeber to take care of your car and be on top of the situation of wear on car tyres.