Your tyres are vital in ensuring your safety on the road
All tyres age and wear, but with the right treatment, you will give them a long life. The right maintenance and an adapted driving style will get you a very long way.
How can Motorvation help in maintaining your tyres?
Change tyres when tread depth is low
The tyre has an indicator in the tread pattern which will show when you have reached the legal limit of usage (1.6 mm). Check your tread depth regularly either with a dedicated tread gauge or using the built-in tread wear indicator on your tyres.
Always have your tyres fitted by a specialist. When it is not done correctly, this could lead to failure, poor handling or rapid tread wear.
In order to maintain even tread wear, it is recommended you have your tyres rotated every 10,000 or 15,000 kilometres, even if there is no visible sign of tread wear. The rotation needs to be done using a cross pattern. It can be done on any front or rear-wheel drive vehicle.
For 4×4 cars or on-command 4x4s, it is best to choose a four-tyre cross rotation.
If you have unidirectional tread tyres, they should always be rotated front to rear.
Wheel and tyre balancing
Excessive vibration will cause irregular tyre wear. Tyre fitters can prevent this by balancing the wheels. This should always be done when you have new tyres fitted or when the tyre is removed from the rim.
Tyre repairs
In some cases, you don’t need new tyres but just have them repaired. Keep in mind that sometimes a tyre will appear only slightly damaged at the outside but it will have suffered extensive internal damage. Our tyre fitters have received dedicated training to help you with the best, and safest, solution.
What can I do to maintain my tyres in the best condition?
Don’t use old tyres
Old tyres can have crazing or cracking in the tread grooves or sidewall due to exposure to ozone (from sunlight as well as other sources). It is best not to fit tyres older than 6 years and consult a tyre specialist for tyres that are more than ten years old. To find the age of your tyres, check the DOT date marked on the sidewall. The last 3 (before 2000) or 4 (after 2000) digits indicate the week and year the tyre was made. The number 375 for instance means the tyre was made in week 37 of the year 1995, whereas 1204 means it was made in week 12 of 2004.
Check the air pressure monthly
A correct tyre pressure will prevent tyre wear and can save on fuel costs. Check the tyre pressure once every 3-4 weeks when the tyres are cold and compare the reading with the recommendation for your type of car. Remember to adapt the pressure when you carry heavy loads.
Inspect the tyres
Try to regularly inspect your tyres, aim for each time you check the air pressure. If you see cuts, cracks or sidewall bulges, it is best to get extra advice.
Adapt your driving style
When you brake and accelerate harshly, your tyres will wear more quickly than with a smooth driving style. Be careful when you park the car: this will reduce damage to the sidewalls. A conservative driving and parking style will make your tyres last longer.
