Experts recommend that you check your tyres every two weeks to make sure they’re in tip-top shape. Sometimes, it seems a little pointless if you don’t know exactly what to look for. So here’s a list of four things to check when inspecting your tyres.
-
Tyre treads
Evaluate the tread depth of your tyres to make sure you have enough traction to grip the road. The coin method is a simple way to do this, or better yet you could purchase a tyre tread gauge for accurate measurements
-
Tyre Pressure
Use a tyre gauge to check your tyre pressure and make sure that they’re properly inflated. Otherwise, fill your tyres with air or deflate them a little as required. To check your pressure, remove the valve stem cap, press the gauge head evenly onto the valve stem, use firm pressure so that the hissing sound stops. Then remove the gauge and read the pressure.
Compare this to your vehicle’s recommended inflation pressure. Also, always check your tyre pressure when the tyres are cold and not when they’re hot from recent use.
-
Tyre condition and age
In addition to making sure your tyre pressure and treads are in good shape, inspecting your tyres for any damage that may lead to you buying new ones is also important. Look at the tread and sidewalls for any cuts, punctures, bulges or bumps.
If you see anything suspicious, have a tyre service professional take a closer look.
To determine the age of your tyres, just look at the DOT stamping on the sidewall. At the end of the DOT stamping, there will be a 4-digit number. This is the date code. The first two numbers are the week and the last two are the year. For example, 4617 would tell you that the tire was manufactured in the 46th week of 2017.
-
Tyre Nuts
Technically, the nuts aren’t a part of the tire but they play a role in the health of your tyres. Tyres have to be fastened tightly to your car or else they’ll make dangerous and uncontrolled contact with the road. Ultimately, this causes your tyres to wear and tear much faster than normal
Check your nuts regularly to make sure your tyres are fixed firmly.
