How to improve tyre life

See the points below in order to improve the tyre life.

Maintain Tyre Pressure

Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is among the easiest and the most effective ways to improve the life of your tyres. It is a common misconception that overinflating the car tyre can help one achieve better handling characteristics and higher fuel efficiency. In fact, over inflation leads to faster wear and tear, thereby reducing its life.

Moreover, over inflation leads to higher stress on the suspension components. Yet another demerit is the bumpy ride. On the other hand, under inflation can lead to rapid degradation of the side walls, which, in turn, increases the chances of a tyre burst. Underinflated tyres also lead to lowered performance and increased fuel consumption. Hence, one should stick to the manufacturer-recommended tyre pressure.

Periodic Wheel Alignment and Balancing

One can minimize the wear and tear of tyres by getting the wheels aligned and balanced at the manufacturer-recommended intervals. Doing so even prevents faster ageing of the suspension components. In fact, those of you who drive over harsh terrains on a regular basis should get the alignment and balance checked every 5,000 km. Going over a pothole or an undulation at high speed can easily cause misalignment, which necessitates a regular observation to the steering’s behavior. A car that pulls towards the left or right or has vibrations in the steering wheel at certain speeds needs an alignment and balancing job at the earliest.

Periodic Tyre Rotation

This is another way to ensure even tread wear between all the tyres. Actually, the tyres of the wheels on the live axle are prone to increased wear and tear. The ones on the free axle experience less wear and tear, mostly because of less friction generation during acceleration. Hence, one should make sure to rotate the wheels at regular intervals. Also, even the spare wheel should be put to use at regular intervals. This will help with ensuring an even tread wear on all five tyres. Another benefit of using the spare tyre is that any issue with the stepney will come to notice immediately.

Gentle Driving

Driving gently not only boosts your car’s fuel efficiency but also leads to lower wear and tear of the tyres. Malpractices, like that of hard braking and acceleration, and aggressive cornering can lead to increased degradation of the tyres.

Use OEM-specified Wheels and Tyres

Many car users change the rims and tyres of their car for a higher aesthetic appeal. We strongly advise against it. Consult a tyre-specialist if you really need to change the OEM-spec rims and tyres. Using wider tyres (the ones with a lower profile) does have its benefits, but it disturbs at least one of the many parameters that have been taken into account by the manufacturer.

Avoiding Harsh Terrains

Broken roads and rough surfaces cause the tyres to heat up faster, thereby resulting in higher wear and tear. Such harsh terrains can even lead to punctures and sidewall damage. Therefore, one should avoid driving over such surfaces as much as possible. In case one has no option but to drive over a broken stretch of road, he or she should drive slower.

Avoid Overloading

Overloading the car with luggage or extra occupants leads to higher pressure on the tyres as well as on the suspension components. This not only increases the wear and tear of the tyres but can also cause punctures and tyre bursts.