With today’s cost of living pressures, keeping a close eye on tyre pressures and the wear and tear of the tread along with regular visual checks for any obvious damage are no brainers to help you get the most kilometres (and dollars and cents) out of your tyres! Additionally, getting any tyre damage repaired before this brings your vehicle to a halt (or you need a totally new set of tyres), can save you time and money as well as the inconvenience of being stuck on the side of the road changing a tyre or waiting for assistance.
Although checking your tyres can seem like a bit of tiresome task (excuse the pun!), your tyres really are all that’s between you and the road. This is another important reason to fit quality tyres on your vehicle in the first place, and why it makes good sense to do regular tyre checks for you own safety and that of other road users.
Here are a few tips to your tyre checking started…
Correct tyre pressures really do make a difference
Inflating tyres to the correct pressure (as specified on the panel on the inside of the driver’s door) can go a long way to ensuring more even tread wear, less likelihood of wheel rim damage and the best possible fuel efficiency – and after all, who doesn’t want that? Plus, over- or underinflated tyres can impact their grip on the road, which in turn can contribute to aquaplaning or other issues that interfere with their contact with the road and your ability to brake and control the vehicle safely.
Important tyre pressure information to suit your particular vehicle (including how the pressures should be adapted to cater for extra loads or when you are towing a boat, caravan or trailer) can be found on the driver’s side door pillar, in the glovebox or under the fuel filler cap.
Remember too that pressure checks should always be done when the tyres are cool (at the beginning of a trip).
Get to grips with the tread
Keeping an eye on your tyre tread is another check that should be carried out regularly. If you are in doubt about your tyres’ tread wear or need some help in assessing their depth, our experienced Maxxis dealers can do an exact measurement using specialised tools. In Australia, the minimum legal requirement for roadworthiness of passenger vehicles is 1.5 mm, however it is recommended you have at least 3mm tread on your tyres. If you are checking the tread yourself, the tread wear indicators (small rubber blocks at intervals across your tyres), are a good gauge. The locations of tread wear indicators are identified by small triangles on the shoulder of the tyre. When the tread wear indicators are level with the rest of the tyre, your tyres will need to be replaced.
Tyre age and condition count
It’s advisable that you do regular checks of the sidewalls for any cuts and damage or sharp objects (such as nails) which may be embedded in the rubber, which could cause a flat tyre or other problem. Noticing this type of issue quickly can often help ensure you don’t cause further damage by driving unknowingly on a damaged tyre. Keeping your tyres in good condition and replacing aging tyres is not only important for safety and performance, but these factors can also (as previously mentioned) affect your fuel economy. If you are unsure of, or concerned about, the age of your tyres speak to your local tyre dealer about checking the age of your tyres.
Tyre rotation solutions
If during your checks you notice the tread is wearing in certain places, our Maxxis dealers are qualified to provide expert services such as rotating your tyres to ensure more even wear and get more life out of your tyres. They will also be able to advise if rotation is not an option and new tyres are needed.
Maxxis dealers are conveniently located throughout Australia
Doing your own tyre checks at home are important, however when you need assistance of a tyre shop specialist, there’s a Maxxis dealer conveniently located to assist! Our dealers operate nationally, you can use the handy dealer locator tool on the Maxxis website to find one close to you!
Image credits: Ronny Dahl, 4Wheeling Australia
@ronny_dahl
