▷ To make tires last longer - enginegeek.online

High-quality car tires are an important factor for safe and comfortable driving. However, not all drivers know how to properly maintain them to extend their life.

Tires must have a certain air pressure, but the materials from which they are made are not completely airtight, so the air gradually escapes through the walls of the chamber and the pressure inside decreases. Also, the cause of insufficient air pressure may be damage to the inner tube or tire, defects in the valve and its fastening.

Adequate air pressure

Tire wear is also affected by irregular air pressure controls. You cannot judge the internal pressure of a tire by the sight or sound of the tire. If the internal pressure decreases, the tires lose their elasticity.

In this case, the tire could spin, so the tube valve could break or it could be damaged in the area where the valve is attached. In addition, the rolling resistance of the wheels increases, so more fuel is consumed. The decrease in air pressure is easily detected by the increase in tire deflection, the car turning towards the side of the flat tire, and the loss of handling.
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Due to the decrease in pressure, the frame may bend and cannot be repaired. Of course, you can use liquid sealant – it is poured through the valve. But this will not protect your tires, as this product is designed to seal punctured areas of the inner tube.

When the air pressure is too high, the cable is damaged and the wear of the central part of the tread increases. The damping properties of the tire are reduced, it can receive high loads, so the wheel frame can fail. The nature of tire damage in case of excessive load of the car is the same as in case of reduced pressure, only this damage is more serious. The main signs of excessive load on the tires: sudden body movements while driving, the car is more difficult to control.

Uniform tread

Some drivers believe that in these cases it is necessary to slightly inflate the tires. This opinion is wrong: the increase in internal air pressure together with the load reduces the life of the tires. Uneven tire wear is the result of central imbalance or wheel (front) damage.

Uneven wear causes noise in the rear axle gears and bearings. Unbalanced wheels lead to breakage of suspension elements (especially ball joints). It is also worth paying attention to wheel alignment.

Never install wheels that are not recommended for your specific car (different types of tires with different tread designs). This will make it difficult to control the car, reduce braking efficiency and reduce the grip of the tires on the road surface. Car enthusiasts need to pay more attention to the “shoe” of their car – you will extend the life of the wheels and save money.

Wear defects

Sometimes both edges of the tread wear faster than half the tire. Possible reasons: air pressure too low, frequent sharp turns, rims too wide for this type of tire, tires not used for a long time.

Often one edge of the tread wears out. Possible reasons: mismatched frame geometry, tire not used for a long time. Sometimes the central part of the tread wears out faster than the edges. Possible causes: excessive air pressure; rims too narrow for this type of tire; long-lasting tyres.

If one or more parts of the tread surface wear faster, possible reasons are: unadjusted moving parts of the braking system or suspension, deformed rim, frequent acceleration and sudden braking, too low air pressure in the tires.

If the wear zone of a car tire is in the diagonal direction, possible reasons are: unadjusted moving parts of the braking system or suspension, mismatched chassis geometry, deformed rim, tires that have stood still for a long time, too low pressure in the tires. Zigzag tread wear occurs due to mismatched frame geometry and bent axle cross member.

Tire storage

Within a few months, the tires removed from the car (this applies to both summer and winter tires) may lose their performance. Often there are “gaps” on the tires. To avoid this, it is recommended to store the wheels installed horizontally, preferably hanging from the central hole of the disc.

Before “wintering” it would be a good idea to inflate the tires. It is best to leave tires without discs in an upright position. Also, it’s a good idea to rotate them 90 degrees about once a month to do a full rotation during the winter.

When to change?

The weather in Lithuania is very unstable. There is no need to be afraid of changing tires earlier in the fall and later in the spring.

The rubber compound of summer tires is effective up to around 7 degrees Celsius. It is recommended to use winter tires when the temperature is below 7 degrees Celsius. Tread depth is a very important safety factor.

A summer tire is effective when the tread depth is at least 3 mm, a winter one – 4-5 mm (that is why used tires that someone has already thrown away are sold in Lithuania). In Lithuania, as in most European countries, the Highway Code indicates that the critical tread depth limit is 1.6 mm.
Most tire manufacturers use an indicator (a 1.6 mm high rubber bump in the tread grooves) to make checking easier.

When the tire is worn and the tread depth is about 1.6 mm, the water displacement and the tire’s grip on the wet road surface deteriorate significantly, causing the car to skid even at low speeds.