How much do you know about tyres?
Tyres.. mmm..
We all know close to everything there is to know about the cars we love, but how much do we really know about tyres?
Different vehicles require different types of tyres. For the racing fanatics they would require tyres such as “slick tyres”. A slick tyre is a type of tyre that has a smooth tread used mostly in auto racing. Slick tyres are a special type of tyre made racing applications. They are called slick tyre or slicks, mostly because they have no tread. These tyres generate more traction because they are made out of a harder rubber compound that becomes sticky when heated up.
Changing a tyre on the side of the road is no walk in the park. Running late to drop the kids off at school, that early morning meeting that you cannot afford to be late for, bad weather and fast moving traffic, is more than enough to get most drivers striving to remain calm. Ever heard of a run flat tyre? This kind of tyre keeps you moving even if your tyre has a puncture. Run flat tyres allow you to drive for an estimate 80km at 80km/h, allowing you to get to a convenient stopping place.
Tyres are an important part of your vehicle. Ensuring that your tyres are road worthy and in a good condition could prevent you from meeting with accident. Once a month or before you embark on long road trips, check your tyres for wear and damage problems. You do not want to be stuck on the side of an unknown road with a flat or damaged tyre. As your tyres wear and your tread depth decrease, your grip reduces and stopping distance increases in wet conditions. 1.5mm is the legal minimum tread depth and less and you won’t pass an inspection. However grip in wet conditions reduces significantly if your tread depth gets below 3mm. so the best solution would be to replace your tyres before you get to 1.5mm.
Always remember the deeper the tread on your tyres, the safer you will be.
As tyres loose pressure, their safety, handling and fuel efficiency are adversely affected. Tyres loose pressure naturally all the time. It is important to check your tyre pressure regularly. Make sure you are using the right pressure for your car; different cars need different tyre pressure. Bubbles and cracks in the surface of your tyre are usually signs of damage. If you an object sticking out of your tyre it’s probably punctured and may go flat. Once you notice this, your tyres need to be checked out by a professional.
If your tread depth is low or your tyre is unrepairable, you will need to get new tyres. As a rule of thumb, cars need new tyres about every three years. However this does vary. The most important features to look for are good wet grip braking, and fuel efficiency. Buy the best tyres you can afford within your budget.
