Car tyres are arguably the most important and overlooked feature of your car. They need regular maintenance in order to keep performing the best of their ability. Due to its complexity and diversity, most of the people seem to understand this feature completely. Although they play a very crucial role in keeping the safety intact on the road, it is surprising that many misconceptions related to them. Perhaps your family members or friends would have told you about the myths related to them but don’t worry we are here to bust some common myths related to the tyres.
Myth: The new tyres should go on the front of the vehicle when replacing only two tyres.
It is actually much safer to install the new tyres on the rear of the vehicle. Installing the new tyres on the front axle provides less hydroplane resistance, and actually makes the vehicle more susceptible to a driving condition called oversteer. It is much safer to have the two new tyres on the rear of the vehicle. Installing the new tyres on the rear means the front tyres will hydroplane before the rear tyres, causing a condition known as understeer, which is much easier to correct than oversteer. In fact, simply taking your foot off the gas will slow the vehicle down, allowing the front tyres to regain traction. Oversteer, on the other hand, is much harder to control. Installing the new tyres on the rear of the vehicle provides more reliable hydroplane resistance. This can also occur on vehicles with a staggered fitment or dual rear wheels. However, because of the vehicle restrictions, the new tyres may not necessarily be installed on the rear axle. We recommend ensuring that the remaining tyres have adequate tread depth before replacing only two tyres.
Myth: New tyres don’t degrade !
Is it absolutely true that the main cause of damage through the tyres is the wear and tear on the roads? The tread on your tyres begins to wear down as you rack up miles behind the wheels however it does not mean that you reduce your car usage as there are various factors affecting the rubber which includes the storage condition of the tyres. The aging of the tyres speeds up upon exposure to bright sunlight, rain, heat, cold and ice. There are certain steps that you can take in order to protect the tyres while you are not using it for instance if the weather is very hot you can store them if the weather is very hot then you can store the them in a relatively cooler and drier environment. If the vehicle has been dormant for a long time then you must replace rather than just refilling them. Moreover, you should carefully keep a check for any cracks, bulges or any other sort of damage. If you are uncertain about the safety of the tyres then you should get them checked by an expert immediately preferably before using them especially for a long journey. The tyres are complex and each manufacturer would have numerous recommendations around when you should be replacing your tyres. Some of them may even recommend changing them after every 5 years regardless of the tread depth.
Myth: The tyre sidewall provides the recommended air pressure.
The air pressure listed on the tyre’s sidewall is actually the maximum air pressure at which the tyre can be safely operated for the maximum load of the tyre. The recommended air pressure is determined by the vehicle manufacturer for all original equipment specifications, and can typically be found in the owner’s manual or door placard. If, however, the tyre size or tyre load index has been changed from the original equipment, a new recommended air pressure based off of the new tyre dimensions may be needed.
Myth: Excessive pumping would cause the tyre to burst !
It is a general misconception that if the pressure exceeds the max press number on the side wall then there is a danger that the tyre would burst; however the truth is that the max pressure has nothing to do with the and max tyre’s burst pressure. The max press basically indicates the maximum amount of weight that the tyre will carry or the particular pressure that the tyre should be when fully loaded. There is no chance that you would accidentally burst the tyre if you exceed this number. The new tyres are manufactured to be highly robust and they would not burst even well above this max press number. It is extremely significant to be careful while inflating your tyres as excessive inflating can cause damage. Too much air in the tyres can also cause incompetent operation if you hit a pothole. Most importantly while adjusting and checking, you must be fully aware of the correct readings of your car. It is essential to know that these readings can vary in reference to whether the car is loaded or not.
Myth: You can tell if a tyre is low by looking at it or kicking it.
The only way to accurately check the air pressure is with an air pressure gauge. Visually inspecting and or kicking the tyres may lead you to believe that the tyres are properly inflated, but they may potentially be low. If you do not use a proper tyre pressure gauge, you may be driving on tyres that are under-inflated, putting unnecessary strain on the tyres. The best way to avoid this is to always check your air with a tyre pressure gauge. Learn more about checking your air pressure.
Myth: Repairing a tyre with a plug or an injected sealant is a safe way to repair tyres.
While these methods may provide temporary protection, they’re not the safest option. The reason we say they are unsafe is because the temporary plug and tyre sealant do not allow you to inspect the inside of the tyre, which can easily be damaged if driven on at all while under-inflated. They also do nothing to repair the inner liner, which is the feature that actually works to hold in the air. The surest way to repair a tyre is to fill the hole with a solid rubber filler and vulcanize a patch to the inner liner, effectively sealing the hole and repairing the liner at the same time. This process helps to ensure that the tyre maintains the proper air pressure and keeps moisture and debris from making its way into the hole, which can cause further damage.
Speak to a Tyre Expert @ Tyre Empire for advice and expert tyre services, call us on 9008000000 & schedule a visit today for a Tyre Safety Check !
