Tyre Pressure

1
Tyre Pressure

• Why do I have to check my tyre pressures?
• Rubber is naturally porous and all tyres will
  suffer from air loss due to porosity leaks, bead
  and rim leaks (due to badly fitted tyres, rusty
  or damaged rims) and valve leaks.
• An under inflated tyre will cost you more money
  in extra fuel (greater rolling resistance), Extra
  tyre wear, uneven tyre wear and are positively
  dangerous.

2
Tyre Pressure

• Why is an under inflated tyre dangerous?
• The tyre on your vehicle has been designed to run
  at an optimum pressure and temperature for your
  vehicle as recommended by the vehicle and tyre
  manufacturer.
• Heat is the number 1 killer of tyres. Under
  inflated tyres run hotter, under inflated tyres
  also lower grip, cornering and straight line
  steering stability and most importantly stopping
  ability.
• Under inflated tyres are more prone to blow outs
  due to the extra flexing of the tyre wall and are
  more prone to side wall impact damage from kerbs,
  etc.

3
Tyre Pressure

• How often should I check my tyres?
• We would recommend every week, but definitely
  once every two weeks.
• What should I check for?
• Tyre pressures, check side walls for damage
  (bumps, lumps, cuts in the side wall).
• Replace tyre immediately if you have any side
  wall damage.
• Check the tread area for puncturing objects (and
  remove,) objects stuck in the tread (and remove)
  cuts, slashes, (get your local tyre fitter to
  check whether the tread area cut or slash is down
  to the tyre casing)
• Check tread depth.
• It only takes a couple of minutes per tyre!!!

4
Tyre Pressure

• Should I rotate my tyres, front to back?
• This dates back to the "good old days" when
  vehicle tracking and tyre balancing was not as
  good as it is today.
• The idea was that if you had uneven tyre wear,
  you rotated the tyres around, to wear the tyres
  evenly.
• Uneven tyre wear is a very good indictor that
  there is something wrong with your vehicle. For
  instance, should you have a tyre on the front of
  your car that has no tread (bald) on one shoulder
  of the tyre but good tread on the rest of the
  tyre, this is a good indication that the steering
  needs "tracking."
• But, if both tyre shoulders are bald, this means
  that the tyre has been running under inflated.
• By rotating your tyres you are also increasing
  the amount of money that you have to pay out at
  one time. You will have to buy 4 tyres instead of
  just 2 tyres.
• Also, some tyres are rotation sensitive, which
  means that they can only be fitted to one side of
  the vehicle.

5
Tyre Pressure

• I have vibration through the steering wheel at
  100Kmph?
• How old is your car? Vibration through the
  steering wheel as opposed to a steering wheel
  "wobble" is a good indicator that your vehicle is
  suffering from mechanical arthritis.
• This is due to the drying out and wear and tear
  on the rubber inserts between the various joints
  and connections between the wheel assemble,
  suspension and steering assemble.
• As the rubber components have lost their
  elasticity, they can no longer absorb road
  vibration.
• Get your vehicle checked by a competent mechanic.

6
Tyre Pressure

• What tyre should I buy for my car?
• Depends on what you are looking for in a tyre.
• Are you looking for grip in wet and dry
  conditions, comfort, low noise or longevity?
• There are many specialist tyres and there are
  general work - a - day tyres. There is big
  difference in cost and the number of tyre
  manufacturers.
• Your local tyre fitter is the expert give him
  your criteria and he will advise you on the best
  tyres for you.

7
Tyre Pressure

• Are tyre sealants a good idea?
• Any product that increases your safety, peace of
  mind and can save you money is a good idea.
• What should I look for in a good tyre Sealant?
• 1st, Look for a tyre sealant that has genuine
  Product Liability Insurance.
• 2nd, Look for the warranty for the full legal
  life of the tyre
• 3rd, Choose a tyre sealant company that
  Manufactures and installs its own product and
  that the company is traceable and does not
  disappear after a few months!!!
• 4th, Beware of exaggerated claims.