Five tips to keep your tyres in good condition

After this long period of reduced mobility due to the COVID-19 health crisis, before setting off on any journey it is essential that you check the condition of your tyres. If you have any doubts, we advise you to take the vehicle to the nearest workshop so they can help you and thus avoid a possible road accident caused by worn tyres. We want to help you, so we are sharing five tips for keeping your tyres in good condition.

Tyres are a fundamental component of the active safety of the vehicle, as they are the only point of contact with the road surface. It is vitally important that you check the condition of the rubber regularly; not only the pressure but also the type of wear. To show you how to do it, we have put together this list of five tips for keeping your tyres in good condition.

Check the tyre pressure

Checking the pressure will only take a few minutes and you can rest assured, since pressure is one of the factors that most influences the wear and premature ageing of tyres. If the pressure is higher than that set by the manufacturer, it will cause greater wear in the central part of the tyre. In addition, the contact surface with the asphalt is smaller, so grip will also be reduced.

If, on the other hand, the wheels have a pressure that is too low, the rubber will suffer very uneven wear on the outer part of the tyre. This will reduce the contact surface.

Before inflating them at random, it is advisable to check the pressure recommended by the manufacturer at least once a month and always before setting off on a long journey. Driving with the correct pressure contributes to our safety, reduces the risk of damaging the tyres and even saves fuel.

Tread depth

Keeping an eye on the tread depth and the wear of the tread pattern is essential, since if the tread is below 1.6 mm it no longer performs its function and the danger increases because there is no grip and the braking distance increases considerably. Added to this is the risk of skidding and even aquaplaning.

To make sure your tyres are in good condition, the tread depth must be greater than 1.6 mm and the tyres should be replaced when the depth is less than 3 mm. However, if you drive on tyres worn below the legal limit, you may be fined 200 euros and even have your vehicle immobilised if the tyre wear is found to be serious.

Wheel alignment

If you are driving and notice that the car pulls to the right or left without you touching the steering wheel, or you feel vibrations, the car probably needs its wheel alignment checked or has been knocked out of alignment by kerbing or impacts. Tyres that are not aligned do not grip properly and therefore will not perform optimally.

Damage to the rubber

It is extremely important to check that the sidewalls have no bulges caused by kerbing or minor scrapes and/or cuts, as well as cracks caused by temperature changes. As soon as you see one, go straight to the workshop, because it could give you quite a scare. It is advisable to change both wheels on the same axle so that there are no differences and to avoid blowouts while driving.

Valves and caps

The tyre valves are responsible for keeping the tyres airtight by containing the air pressure at the junction between the tyre and the rim. These components are subjected to very harsh stresses during their working life. If there is the slightest doubt about air loss, it is recommended to replace them.