Long, lazy days at the beach are over (for many of us, for now!), with the challenge of school lunch boxes soon to take over the kitchen counter once again. But the good news is that even with the daily grind kicking back in, the next road trip or bush bash is just around the corner – making this the perfect opportunity to get your rig prepped and ready for take-off! Here are a few quick reminders of how to ensure your tyres are up for the test.
Do a thorough visual check…
Picking up a problem with a tyre before it brings you to a halt can often be the best way to get it sorted! If you’ve been too busy holidaying to have a good look at your tyres for a while, take a few minutes to do a walk around and inspect each one for any signs of damage or embedded objects such as nails, stones or other sharp objects. Doing this kind of visual check will also give you the chance to take stock of how your tread is tracking.
While we’re on the subject of tread…
You’ve probably heard this one many times before, but it’s definitely worth keeping top of mind. Your tyres are the only thing between you and the road – so having a healthy amount of tread on them is tyre safety “101”! It’s usually easy to see at a glance if the tread is beginning to wear in patches or become generally smooth. The tread indicators (small rubber blocks across your tyres) are a vital key to how your tread is wearing: If they are level with the rest of the tyre (or coming close), your tyres will need to be replaced.
While the minimum legal requirement is at least 1.5mm tread, it is highly recommended that you have at least 3mm both for the safety of you and your own passengers as well as others on the road. If you’re in any doubt, (or just need some help with assessing the health of your tread) our countrywide network of friendly Maxxis tyre shops can help you make important decisions about when new tyres are really needed and the suitable options for your vehicle.
Those pesky tyre pressures…
Yes, it’s one of those things that can seem like a bit of a pain, but checking your tyre pressures actually only takes a couple of minutes and will make a huge difference to both the safety and performance of your vehicle and its fuel efficiency. If you’re in a new vehicle (or driving a hire car or one you are unfamiliar with) you’ll easily find all the tyre pressure information you need on the tyre placard on the inside of the driver’s door, under the fuel filler cap or inside the glovebox.
Of course, it’s also important that pressure checks are carried out while the tyres are still cool, preferably at the start of a journey. If you’re towing a load (including a caravan, trailer or boat) you may need to increase the pressure in your tyres to accommodate the additional load.
Don’t forget the spare…
With run flat tyres now being used on many vehicles, you may not have a spare tyre. However, if your car kit does include a spare, it’s easy to forget about it until it’s really needed! When you’re checking your other tyres, ensure its correctly inflated and in roadworthy condition so that it’s ready for use in an emergency.
Check in with your local Maxxis dealer…
Your local Maxxis dealer is here to help and always happy to offer advice or assistance when it comes to your tyres and making sure they go the distance! Whether you’re considering a new set (or just need one or two), balancing, rotating, fixing a puncture or simply have a question about your tyre’s warranty, you can use our handy Maxxis dealer locator to find the one closest to you!
