Your car tyres are among the most essential components of your vehicle. They are the only components that directly contact the road surface, affecting your safety, the vehicle’s performance, and its fuel efficiency. Therefore, it is crucial to take good care of your tyres and ensure their longevity. Even so, many factors can determine the life of a car tyre, making it wear out faster than expected. This article discusses some of the common factors affecting your tyres' lifespan and ways to prevent or mitigate them.
What affects the life of car tyres
Driving aggressively, braking hard, accelerating quickly, or taking sharp turns are actions that apply more stress on your tyres, ultimately causing their wear earlier than assessed. Reckless driving also increases the risk of punctures, blowouts, or sidewall damage. Extend the life of your tyres by always driving smoothly, maintaining a steady speed, avoiding abrupt braking or accelerating, and following set speed limits. If possible, avoid driving on rough or uneven roads, potholes, curbs, or debris as these can damage your tyres.
The volume of air inside your car tyres supports the vehicle's weight and helps the tyres to grip the road properly. If your tyre pressure is too low or too high, you will increase or reduce the contact area between the tyres and the road and cause uneven wear. Low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance, forcing your engine to work harder, resulting in lower fuel efficiency and higher emissions.
Conversely, high pressure makes the tyres more rigid and prone to cracks or bursts. To prevent such problems, routinely inspect your vehicle's tyre pressure and adjust per the manufacturer's guidelines. You can locate the recommended pressure for your car on the driver's door frame, within the owner's manual, or on a label inside the fuel cap.
The tyres or wheels of a vehicle are connected to the suspension, and the adjustment of the suspension is referred to as tyre alignment. However, the process does not involve the adjustment of the tyres or wheels themselves. The critical factor of adequately aligning the suspension is to adjust it so that the angles of the tyres make optimum contact with the road. Maintaining proper tyre pressure is also helpful in maintaining the correct alignment of a vehicle, which even the best tyres for cars need.
This is the process of moving the tyres of your vehicle from one position to another to ensure even wear. Different tyres on your car may wear out at different rates depending on their location, load, and function. For example, front tyres tend to wear out faster than rear ones because they bear more weight and handle more steering and braking forces. Follow the correct rotation pattern for your vehicle depending on whether it has front-wheel, rear-wheel, or four-wheel drive.
The pattern of grooves and blocks on your tyre's surface provides traction and grip for different road conditions. Tread helps you to stop, start, turn, and avoid skidding or hydroplaning. Your tyre tread wears down gradually as you drive, reducing its effectiveness. Worn-out tyres have less grip and can compromise safety and performance. To check the condition of your tyre tread, you can use a depth gauge or a simple coin test. Insert a coin into one of the grooves on your tyre and see how much of it is visible. If you can see over half of the coin's head (or tail), your tyre tread is too low and requires immediate replacement.
How to take care of car tyres
You can follow these tips to ensure long life and good performance of your car tyres-
- Regular Inspections: Periodically check tyres for signs of wear, cuts, or bulges. Early detection can prevent potential failures.
- Maintain Correct Tyre Pressure: Regularly monitor and adjust tyre pressure according to the manufacturer's specifications to ensure optimal performance.
- Wheel Alignment and Balancing: Schedule routine wheel alignment and balancing to promote even tyre wear and enhance driving comfort.
- Rotate Tyres: Rotating tyres periodically ensures even wear across all tyres, extending their overall lifespan.
- Avoid Overloading: Adhere to the vehicle's load capacity to prevent undue stress on the tyres.
When to change the tyres of a car
The right time to change a car tyre depends upon these factors-
- Tread Wear: If the tread depth reaches 0.5 cm or less, replacing the tyres to maintain adequate traction is advisable.
- Damaged Sidewalls: Visible damage or cracks in the sidewall can compromise tyre integrity and necessitate replacement.
- Extensive Use: After heavy usage, especially on rough terrains, inspect tyres for structural damage and consider replacement.
- Ageing: Regardless of usage, tyres should generally be replaced every five years to ensure safety.
Conclusion
Car tyres are indispensable for your safety and comfort while on the road. However, various factors can shorten their lifespan and affect their performance. By following some simple tips, such as driving with caution, maintaining optimum tyre pressure, aligning and rotating your tyres regularly, checking your tyre tread depth, and obtaining proper car insurance such as comprehensive car insurance, you can prolong the life of your car’s tyres and enjoy a smooth and safe ride.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.