We don’t pay much attention to them, if at all, but caring for your car’s tyres is in your best interest and safety.
Tyres connect your car to the road. So when they fail, it can lead to disaster.
Here is what you need to know about tyre safety.
Why care for tyres?
Driving in Heels motoring journalist and entrepreneur, Vuyi Mpofu says tyres are your first safety feature, as they assist most of the safety mechanisms in your car to function better.
“Even if you have all the braking systems in your car, none of them will work if your tyres are not in a good condition,” says.
Motoring journalist Njabulo Ngcobo points out that the correct tyre pressure does not only balance your car well, it also extends its life and performance. “It’s also vital to have the correct tyres on your vehicle.”
Tyre tread
Change your tyres when they are worn.
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“There are different treads for different tyres. The reason they are cut in a specific way is for water to be able to pass through and have enough friction between the road surface and tyre when braking,” Mpofu says.
The legal tyre tread is 1.6 mm. Anything less than that is not considered roadworthy. Summer heat increase tyres’ heat level when they rotate. Mpofu advises that you always check tyre temperature within a 5km radius.
Ngcobo notes that if it’s hot, air pressure in tyres increase and leaves it with less surface area to make contact with the road.
On whether to use nitrogen or air to control heat in tyres, Ngcobo say nitrogen is best for tyres but you can mix both in an emergency. “Nitrogen -filled tyres are consistent even when temperatures change.”
READ MORE | Tyre rotation 101: It stretches their lifespan, plus 3 other benefits for rotating your wheels
Best practice tips for tyres
1. Ensure your car’s tyres have sufficient tread on them.
2. Check that the tyre pressure is correct.
3. Rotate tyres by switching them from the back to the front so that they even out well.
4. Always carry a spare tyre and have the correct tools for changing a flat one.
