Taking a few minutes to check the condition of your car's tyres before you hit the road is a small but important step to ensure safety. You need to inspect tyre tread and pressure.
Learn more about tyre inspection, when to change tyres, and ways to clean them.
What is Tyre Inspection?
Tyre inspection involves looking for punctures, bulges, cracks, scrapes, and the overall extent of wear and tear.
How to Check Tyres?
Here’s how you can carry out a car tyre safety check:
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Monitor the Tyre Pressure
Use a pressure gauge to check the air in your car tyres. Doing this will help determine whether the tyres are properly inflated or need an air refill.
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Check out the Tread Depth
Monitoring tread depth means checking your tyre grooves. You can do this using a coin. Try vertically inserting a coin into each tyre tread. This will tell you if the tyres have equal tread depth. For a perfect measurement, you can use a tread depth gauge. If the tread depth is not up to par, stop using the tyre immediately.
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Examine the Tyre’s Overall Condition
It always helps to monitor possible signs of tyre damage. Some warning signs that indicate that it’s time for a replacement are cracks, punctures, cuts, bulges, or bumps. Any warning sign may mean that it’s time to replace the tyre or hire a professional tyre service. The replacement will mostly depend on the age of your vehicle's tyres.
When Do Tyres Need Changing
The following situations should tell you when to replace the tyres:
- If you have used the vehicle for about 5-6 years. This applies even when you see no visible signs of wear and tear.
- If you drive the car under damaged or harsh road conditions, such as potholes, bumps, or regions with extreme weather conditions.
- An individual’s driving habits also determine the life of a car tyre. These factors include driving speed, failure to service the car regularly, misusing the emergency brakes, and using incompatible wheel and rim sizes.
- In the event of an accident, even if you experience only minor damages.
Ways to Clean Tyres
Follow these steps whenever you want to clean your car tyres:
- Get all the necessary tools ready (mild detergent, soft to medium-bristled brush, towel, etc.)
- Spray water on the tyre and the rim from various angles.
- Apply the cleaning solution.
- Let the detergent absorb for a few minutes to loosen the grime, making rinsing easier.
- Start scrubbing the tyre surface (for spots with hard grime, use other brushes that are more efficient).
- Rinse the tyre thoroughly to eliminate all cleaning products.
- Use a towel to dry out the tyre.
You can apply wheel wax to your tyres to make the cleaning process easier. The wax makes the surface of the tyres shine and attain a brand-new look. Importantly, it creates a protective layer that safeguards the tyres from contaminants.
Conclusion
Inspecting your vehicle's tyres is an essential part of car maintenance. With the increase in road accidents, you must prioritise your safety and that of others by performing a routine tyre inspection before you go for a drive. Regular checkups will help you resolve any issues you detect immediately.
Also, consider purchasing the right car insurance policy to protect your finances and cover emergencies like road accidents. In this case, the insurance will pay for hospital bills and car damages.
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.