WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN TYRES?

Tyres are crucial to the safety of you and other road users since they are the only component of the car that really makes contact with the road. Regulated maintenance inspections, which normally only check the levels of oil, water, and windscreen washer, unfortunately frequently ignore them.

Our entire set of tyres, including the spare, should get a visual inspection at least once every month, according to tyre experts. You are checking the tyre to see whether it got punctured by stones, nails, or other pointed items, as well as for any cuts, tears, or bulges.

An MOT Stoke On Trent failure is probable if:

Your tyres are not functional.

On the same axle, you have tyres of various diameters.

The tyre tread is less than the required amount.

Keeping them in the greatest condition possible will go a long way towards reducing dangers in all types of road and weather situations, even though they will naturally deteriorate despite the best level of maintenance. Also, regular inspections will let you know when your tyres need replacing soon, allowing you to start saving money.

Here are a few things you can do to keep your tyres in good condition.

DEPTH OF TYRE TREAD

Driving on tyres that are less tread-depth-compliant than 1.6mm over the middle three-quarters of the tyre's circumference is actually prohibited in the UK. At 3mm tread depth, it's advised that you replace your tyres.

At 1.6mm tread depth as opposed to 3mm, it will take two additional car lengths (8 metres) to stop a car travelling at 50 mph in rainy weather.

A 20p coin is all you need for a quick and simple test to determine the tread depth of your tyres. After inserting the penny into the groove, if the outer edges are still visible, that tyre has to get changed. Consult an expert if you're unsure whether your tread is legal. Although it's ideal to purchase four tyres at once to ensure even wear, it's understandable if you don't. According to experts, you should at the very least change the tyres on the same axle at the same time.

CAR TYRE PRESSURE

When your tyres are properly filled, your automobile is safer, uses less gas, and its tyres last longer. Under-inflated tyres' sidewalls get compressed by the weight of the car, which has two effects:

The tyres flex more than they normally would, which increases the risk of blowouts. More of the tire's tread makes contact with the road's surface, increasing friction and slowing the tyre as it travels down the road. Your car must therefore utilise more power, which consumes more fuel.

Tyres that are either under-inflated or over-inflated quickly wear out the tread's centre and edges. A tyre's lifespan can get reduced by up to 75% if it is running at about 80% of the ideal pressure.

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, the manufacturer will choose a different pressure setting for your tyres. The appropriate pressure rating for your car should get located in at least one of the areas listed below:

• Vehicle manual

• Printed on the driver's door's interior ledge.

• Within the gas cap

Your tyres will inevitably lose some pressure over time. According to estimates, this will amount to about one psi (pounds per square inch) on average per month and one psi for every 10 degrees Celsius drop in temperature.

Once you have an accurate pressure gauge, checking the tyre pressure on your car is simple and can be also done at home for free in a few minutes. The best time to do this is while the tyres are cold (i.e. driven under two miles). Take off the valve's dust cap, adjust the pressure gauge, and note the outcome.

If the result is below the recommended pressure, you should inflate it using your home air pump, if you have one, or the equipment found in most gas stations.

If your tyre is over-inflated, you can let air out while the dust cap is off to reduce the pressure until it is at the proper level.

All new vehicles registered in the EU after November 1, 2012, must have a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The vehicle has a gadget fitted that connects to the tyres to track temperature and pressure, alerting the driver if there is a problem.

At least once a month and before any lengthy excursions, you should check the pressure in your tyres. You can also conduct the previously described visual tyre check while you're doing this.

WHEEL BALANCING

Any steering vibration could be the result of a wheel imbalance, which could prevent your tyre from making contact with the pavement. Because of the high-pressure stress this vibration places on the steering and suspension, there is excessive mechanical wear, increased fuel consumption, and increased tyre wear.

Rebalancing the wheels is a simple and affordable task that may be carried out at your neighbourhood garage. Little metal weights are basically added to balance things out when an imbalance gets measured using an electronic computerized wheel balancer.

It's crucial to get your wheels balanced any time you replace a Tyres Stoke On Trent or fix a puncture.