Essential tyre checks to be done before a summer road trip

Now that the world is on its way to reopening after a long lockdown, it is critical to know what your car requires before embarking on those long-awaited road trips and vacations. When the last time you have stopped the car in the lockdowns, your car has most likely been in varying degrees of neglect, or you may believe your tyres are in better condition than they are. The most critical place to begin checking is with your tyres. If you are not sure what to look for, it is recommended to go with reputed tyres services in Unanderra. Here are several checks that are necessary to perform before embarking on your summer of driving adventures to stay safe on the road.

Tyre condition:

Whether used infrequently or regularly, make sure you inspect your tyres to see how good they are in terms of condition. Cuts, tears, and bulges are important to look for. Keep an eye out for any nails, stones, or debris that may have become entangled in them. These can cause significant damage to the tyre and increase the risk of damage to the tyre's sidewall. The most common cause of hitting a pothole or curb is a bulge or lump, which can be extremely dangerous.

Tyre pressure:

Maintaining proper tyre pressure lets you safely brake, maintain good road grip, and steer with expert control and handling. If your tyres are under or over-inflated, this can significantly impact your vehicle and affect how it performs and drives. Underinflated or overinflated tyres will wear unevenly over time. This has a high risk of an accident on the road.

Tyre treads:

Once you know how to check your tyre tread, it will become quick and simple. This is easily checked at home with a 20 pence piece. Insert the coin into the tread grooves of your tyres. If you cannot see the 20p's edge band, your tyres are within the legal tread depth limit of 1.6mm. If you see the band, you know it is time to get your tyres checked and changed right away. Even though the legal tread limit is 1.6mm, we always recommend replacing your tyres when they reach 3mm. This means that your braking distance and road grip are still sufficient to save lives. The stopping distance between a car and a pedestrian is 1.6mm thread, and one with 3mm tread can be as much as nine cars' lengths, which can decide accidents.

Tyre spare:

You may probably have an unappreciated or underappreciated spare tyre in your car. On a long road trip, the tyre can be a lifesaver but is rarely checked or maintained. If the tyre has previously been used, it is worth performing all of the above checks before taking a long journey. It is also worth checking its age, whether it has been used or not. If it is six years or older, it should only be used in an emergency, and if it is older or decade, it should be replaced immediately.

Tyre sidewalls:

Potholes, curbs, and other unfriendly road objects can cause cuts and bulges in your tyres. If you see any of these irregularities, it is time to replace the tyres in Unanderra.

Rotate before rolling out:

It is a good idea to have a vehicle's tyres rotated before embarking on a road trip. Rotate your tyres regularly and on every 5,000 miles or as recommended by the vehicle manufacture. It promotes even tread wear and helps the tyre performance.

Avoid unnecessary luggage:

Maximum weight recommendations for vehicles can be found in the owner's manual. Your tyres' sidewalls also have a maximum load rating stamped on them. Obeying these limits is critical because excessive loads are hard on the tyres and hurt the vehicle's ride and handling. The greater the weight of the vehicle, the lower the fuel economy will be.

Wheel alignment:

Unexpected jolts and jostles of this nature can cause our wheels to become misaligned and our tyres to be damaged. Misaligned wheels cause uneven and excessive tread wear, which a tyre technician must correct. Check the alignment regularly as part of your vehicle maintenance routine, such as when switching from summer to winter tyres or if you notice warning signs such as excessive vibration when driving at high speeds.

Limit your speed:

Finally, and this may seem self-evident, keep your speed low. Lower speeds put low pressure on the tyre, which is especially important if your tyres are not identically designed to perform well at high speeds for extended periods. Speeding on hot roads for an extended period raises the temperature and friction of the tyre, resulting in faster wear. This also increases the likelihood of your tyre blowing out at high speeds, which can be fatal. So, you can unwind and enjoy your summer drive by taking it easy on the roads.

Wrapping it up

Remember to visually scan your tyres every time you go on a long drive, check your tyre pressure every time you stop for gas, test your tyre tread depth once a month on a specific day, and inspect your spare at least once a year. It is always worth taking 5 or 10 minutes to double-check that you will arrive safely at whatever place you visit this summer. You can check the tyres with Unanderra professionals to have peace of mind before beginning the summer road trip.

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