The lifespan and mileage of your tyres depend on varying factors, such as its design, climate, road conditions, your driving habits, and most importantly the care that you put into the tyres. Proper maintenance increases the overall performance, reduces motoring costs and keeps you safe from accidents and legal prosecutions. Here are the basic tyre maintenance tips.
Regular Air Pressure Checks
Check pressure at least once per month. Do not forget the spare ones. For better results, perform the checks when the tires are cool. Use the following steps to check air pressure;
Step 1: Insert pressure gauge into your tyre’s valve s
tem. The gauge will pop out and display the psi number. Hissing sounds indicate that air is escaping from the tyre and it will not affect pressure substantially unless you hold the air pressure gauge for too long.
Step 2: Compare the psi measurements to the recommended measurements, in your vehicle’s owners’ manual or on the sticker on driver’s and fuel tank doors. Add or let out air until the numbers match. Perform regular air pressure checks before making long trips. You must take care of your tyres; they define your journey.
Routine Check for Damages
To maintain safe driving capacity, you should inspect and determine sources of leaks, wear and damages. Valves are made of rubber and can get damaged while you are driving at high speeds. You should also be very keen while adding air in the tyres. Whenever you buy new tyres, change the valves as well.
Inspection of the Tread
Remove any object that’s embedded in the tread. You should also check if enough tread is left on your tyres. A safe amount tread enables the tyres to grip the road perfectly and allows you to maintain control with ease. You can either use a tread depth gauge or look for the tread wear indicators moulded in the base of your tyre’s main grooves. A proper visual inspection will help you identify lumps, cuts or bulges in the tread. If you find out that the surface is worn out, consider replacing your tyres.
Tyre Rotation
You should rotate your tires after every six months, but you can check the owner’s user manual to determine the recommended rotation scheme. Tyre experts remove tyres and wheels from the vehicle and move them to different positions. You will get better performance and the tyres will be safe and reliable once they are rotated.
Tire Alignment
Slight adjustments of the rear and front suspension components may be necessary if the alignment is off. The process helps maximise passengers and drivers comfort, reduce wear on tyres and improve 
performance as well as fuel economy. You should have tire alignment in case of the following situations.
- You hit objects on the road
- After covering at least 8,000km.
- When you realise that there is a difference in steering or handling the vehicle.
- The presence of wear patterns on the outer edges of your tyres.
- After replacing the steering or suspension components.
If you ever feel unique noise and vibration, difficulty in handling the vehicle, wobbling, bouncing or any other uncomfortable situations, you should visit a professional mechanic or tyre expert. Always use the approved sealants and store the spare tyres properly. Avoid sudden brakes and acceleration which leads to tire wear and drive as carefully as possible.