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One check you should pay close attention to is your tyres.
With warm days and sunny weather in the near future, you’ll probably currently planning that beach trip or lakeside picnic in your head. Getting to these places often requires your car, so making sure your car is in tip-top condition is important to maximise your driving experience this spring.
Check 1: Tyre Pressure
The most important checks for your tyres revolve around safety. After all, you can’t make trips to hiking spots if your tyres leave you nervous at every turn. The first critical aspect is to make sure the pressure in your tyres is correct. If tyres lose their pressure, they can become difficult to control, manoeuvre and break.
An incorrect tyre pressure can lead to lower fuel efficiency, costing you extra hard earned pounds by an issue that can take minutes to check. Some modern cars have built in pressure sensors that can be displayed on the dashboard. However, for most people to check their tyre pressure regularly, the best option will be to simply use a digital or manual pressure that you can buy online. Alternatively, you can head to your local petrol station which has a gauge and will also have an air pump if your pressure is low.
To check your tyre pressure, you’ll first need to know the recommended pressure for your car’s tyres. Each tyre will have the ideal pressure printed on the sidewall. Spring weather makes it great time to do this because you’ll want your tyres to be cool when checking them for accurate results. If they are still warm, wait a couple hours for them to cool first.
If it turns out that your tyres are under pressurised, you can use an air compressor to inflate your tyres. Most petrol stations or service stations will have one you can use on their forecourts. Once you’ve finished inflating your tyres, check using a gauge once again. Once you’ve checked the tyre pressures and ensure they’re in the range to ensure the best performance for Spring.
Check 3: Tread Depth
Tread depth is legal requirement in the UK, with the absolute minimum limit being 1.6mm – though tyre performance and capability can become comprised at anything below 3mm. You should check the tread regularly to make sure that the tyres aren’t excessively worn and that the tread pattern is still intact so that you have good tyres for spring. Make sure you give each tyre the once-over from different angles and tyre positions to check for any deformities.
Check 2: tyre appearance
Checking for signs of damage, wear and tear and the tread depth of your tyres is an important safety step that you can do every so often. If you spot a problem, address the issue as soon as possible. Warning signs of issues other than obvious ones such as punctures and embedded objects may include uneven wearing, patchy wearing, and a worn tread pattern. Each type can signify an issue with the tyres, such as over or under-inflation or tyre alignment.
If you notice any of these issues its important to get the alignment of your wheels check and/or the suspension checked for any faults. Having your wheels rotated every 5,000 miles can also prevent uneven wear and maximise tyre tread longevity. Tyre age should be monitored to make sure your tyres are fully capable of handling daily driving. To check your tyre’s age, you can check the sidewall for the manufacture date. If your tyres exceed five years of age, or your spare tyre has exceeded its expiration date its time to replace the tyres ready for Spring.
Check 4: While Driving
Tyres need to be balanced for a smooth, reliable drive. If they’re not, you may experience some issues with ride quality, steering and even grip. Once you’ve checked the tread, appearance, and pressure you should pay attention to how your car feels at different speeds. At low speeds your tyres may feel ok, but tyres with issues often develop symptoms at high speeds such as wobbling, vibrations and uneven wear on tyres.
Vibrations at higher speeds are not only disconcerting for even the most experienced drivers, but it can also lead to poor handling and decreased fuel efficiency. If you feel any of these vibrations or see wear, you should take your car to a garage to have it checked. The garage mechanics can spot issues that you may not have seen and can make adjustments/fixes to your wheels or tyres.
Don’t Take Tyres For Granted
Doing checks on your tyres before Spring on the tyre pressure, tread, age, and balance can help you keep your tyres in top condition. If you want to take all the hassle out of checking your tyre pressure, or you’re unsure about any of the steps above, or you notice any problems with your tyres get in touch with us here at G&H Tyres.
Our team of experienced technicians can accurately check your tyre pressures and make sure they meet the recommended number for your vehicle. We provide emergency 24-hour mobile tyre repair or replacement across Devizes, Chippenham, Warminster and surrounding areas.
We are your local, reliable, and trusted tyre replacement service, with friendly and qualified fitters. Call now on 07739634929 or email us at info@ghtyreservices.co.uk, steveg@ghtyreservices.co.uk, or steveh@ghtyreservices.co.uk.
