How to Extend the Life of your Car Tyres

Tyre Pressure

Making sure the tyre is inflated to the correct air pressure for your vehicle is the most important. This will help rolling resistance so can marginally improve fuel economy as an added benefit. Too much or too little air can cause the tyre to bulge or sag creating premature wear.

Tyre Rotation

Due to the way the suspension is set up, vehicle tyres can benefit from being rotated. This simply evens out points of wear on the tyres so they last longer because one part of the tyre is not constantly doing a lot of the work. Most vehicle manuals will have a Kilometre figure for when it is best to do this and a diagram showing how the tyres are rotated. Some will include the spare wheel if it is a full size tyre.

Wheel Alignment

Keeping your wheels aligned so they are pointing in the right direction will help reduce premature wear and tear on tyres. Alignments can make the vehicle feel better to drive especially if it was out. A decent pothole or curb strike can cause alignment issues.

Wheel Balance

Each tyre is balanced on the wheel rim by strategically adding weights to the rim when a new tyre is fitted. These can sometimes fall or get knocked off so getting a balance checked can help. If a wheel is badly out of balance you will feel a vibration.

Smooth Driving

While the first 4 points were routine maintenance, this point is down to the driver. The smoother you drive the better the tyre wear. If your driving style is more suited to a race track then don t expect great tyre life.

Cleaning the Tyres

When washing your car and cleaning the wheel rims, clean the outside edge of the rubber tyre as well to remove any brake dust and road grime. Follow up with a quality tyre black dressing which can protect the tyre from the suns rays. Don t use it on the tyre tread, only the side walls.

These 6 points will help your tyres last longer and make your vehicle more pleasant to drive.