The Ultimate Tyre Guide

Understanding what your tyres need to keep them in good condition can make all the difference between crashing your car and avoiding a hazard on the road. Poorly maintained tyres are much more dangerous than ones which are in good condition. So, if you want to keep yourself safe – not to mention your passengers, of course – when you are on the road, then read on to find out what you need to know in our ultimate guide.

Keep An Eye On Tyre Pressure

Firstly, you must always keep your tyres pumped up properly. If you over-inflate them, then they will be more likely to pop if you run over even a small object. This can mean suffering a blowout which is scary when it happens at high speed. In case of a blow out, the only way out is to replace your tyres with new ones. For that always go to a reliable tyre dealer. One such tyre dealer is Calmac. You can book tyres online at Calmac Northampton Tyre Autocentre and get them delivered to your doorstep. Equally, under-inflated tyres don't offer the correct level of grip. This means that you can drift a little when you try to corner and, if you don't react in time, this may well lead to spinning out of control. Remember that even a little under-inflation means your tyres are under-performing so check your tyre pressure every one thousand miles or so.

Look Out For Minor Tears

It is possible to have tyres repaired if small sections of rubber have come away from them. However, if you leave little issues unattended to, then they tend to get worse as you continue to drive. In the end, this may mean you are motoring on tyres which are little more than a death trap. Take your tyres to a professional dealer if you notice minor gouges or tears. Doing so will save money in the long run because it will mean not having to replace them for new ones in the end.

Inspect Your Tyres For Bulges

Look at your tyres every few weeks for any bulges that might be present. As tyres age, so the rubber compounds they are manufactured from start to deteriorate. This can be a big problem when the sun's UV rays hit them day in day out. If you see bulges, then it is a sign that your tyre may soon blow. This is dangerous for anyone around so have them replaced without delay. Bulges often occur on the sidewalls of tyres as well as in the tread. Either way, they should not be left in this state.

Check Your Tread Depth

Most drivers are responsible enough to know that continuing to drive on bald tyres is both illegal and dangerous. Potentially lethal, bald tyres mean you cannot brake or corner properly. Avoid excessive wear on your tread by slowing down and wheel-spinning less when pulling away. When you want to check whether your tyres have enough tread on them, simply use a twenty pence coin. The rim of these coins is the same size as the legal minimum for car tyre tread. So, if you put a coin into your tread and can still see the rim sticking out, then you need to buy new ones. Alternatively, you can buy a tread depth tool which does the same job.