TYRE MAINTENANCE

Tyre Inflation

Over inflation of tyres can:

• Reduce the ability of the tyre to absorb road shocks, resulting in a much harsher ride
• Cause excessive wear of the centre of the tyre.

Under inflation can:

• Cause excessive flexing in the tyre, building up internal heat and causing rapid and irregular tread wear.
• Create more rolling resistance which will have a negative impact on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

You can check the correct inflation of your tyres by referring to the tyre placard, which can usually be found inside the driver’s door, in the glove box or under the bonnet. The placard will also give you other important tyre information such as the correct size, speed rating and load capacity of the tyres that should be fitted to your car.

Tyre Rotation

Different vehicles will wear their tyres at different rates. For example, a front-wheel drive car will wear its tyres very differently from a rear-wheel drive. Wagons and utilities – because of the lack of weight over the rear wheels – will also wear at varying rates.

One of the best ways you can look after your tyres is by rotating them regularly. Swapping the rear tyres to the front and vice-versa ensures that tyres wear evenly and last significantly longer. As a guide, tyres should be rotated every five to eight-thousand kilometres even if there is no sign of uneven wear.