Regular maintenance is a core tenet of tyre protection. But that’s not all. The condition of tyres also affects vehicle safety and performance. Thus, it becomes prudent to keep tyres in an optimal condition. Regular tyre maintenance ensures that a vehicle can run optimally, brake efficiently, and conserve fuel more effectively. This is why ignoring tyre maintenance is never a good idea. But what exactly happens during such maintenance service? The following blog tries to answer this very question. It examines the various services, inspections, and checks conducted during a garage visit. Furthermore, it outlines specific details on how to keep a tyre in perfect condition.
Visual Checks to Assess Damage
Almost all Car Tyres Rochester, be it professional or DIY, begins with a visual check. This involves a thorough physical examination of the tyres. A comprehensive inspection is likely to point out any underlying problems. Moreover, the tread of a tyre is also checked for any sharp objects or similar damage.
A professional inspection of car tyres Bridge of Don involves the following:
- Examining the sidewalls for any cuts, bulges, or other signs of physical damage.
- Inspecting the tread depth of the tyre.
- Shaking the tread for any embedded objects like nails, rocks, gravel, glass, etc.
- Checking the valve stem of the tyres for potential air leakage.
- Verifying the age of the tyres.
- Noticing the rim condition.
Checking Tyre Pressure
The air pressure is the backbone of a tyre. Without proper inflation, a tyre will be unable to function optimally. In fact, it will become wobbly and impact the stability and fuel economy of a car. When a driver goes for tyre maintenance, greater emphasis is on air pressure levels. Driving with either under-inflated or over-inflated tyres is equally risky. Under-inflated tyres tend to become wider due to the weight of the vehicle. This increases their contact patch and results in greater friction. The heat generated during this friction causes the tyre to wear out much faster. This leads to early tyre replacement. Similarly, overinflated tyres become narrower, hence pushing out their centre. This reduces their contact patch. Such tyres are prone to skidding and losing control, especially at higher speeds. Moreover, they are also prone to blowouts, which can be pretty risky. Hence, tyre maintenance makes sure that tyres have the correct air pressure. That too, as per the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Inspecting Tread Depth
The tread depth dictates the tyre’s ability to grip the road. Thus, if a tyre has a shallow tread, it will be unable to grip the road properly. This will cause problems and make the drive riskier. It is also illegal to drive with a tyre that does not have a tread depth of 1.6mm. So tyre maintenance involves tread inspection to ensure that there is nothing wrong with it. This also includes the following inspections:
- Uneven thread wear.
- Patches on the tread.
- Checks for scrubbing.
Wheel Balancing
Wheel balancing ensures the vehicle’s weight is evenly distributed across tyres. This happens during tyre maintenance or when there are apparent signs. Ignoring this can lead to severe problems. For example, a tyre blowout or the vehicle losing control on the road.
Tyres come with a load index, which is their ability to bear a certain weight. Unbalanced tyres end up having to bear extra weight, which can cause them to break down. Wheel balancing prevents this.
The process involves attaching counterweights to the wheel, which helps them recalibrate.
The entire process happens like this:
- The mechanic places the wheels on a computerised machine.
- The machine has wheels to identify any spots, any heavy or light spots.
- The mechanic then attaches counterweights to the wheels.
- The machine rotates the wheels again to ensure everything is in order.
Wheel Alignment
Like balancing, wheel alignment is also done during tyre maintenance. This is to ensure that all wheels are at the correct angle. When a car comes off the manufacturing line, the wheels are aligned in such a manner that reduces drag and rolling resistance. However, over time, these beads get misaligned due to external factors. This can cause tyres to wear faster. Furthermore, it can also be a safety hazard. Misaligned wheels will also cause the car to pull to one side of the road. This impacts steering and the stability of the vehicle.
This service involves laser alignment equipment to measure the caster, camber, and toe angles of the wheel. A computer-operated machine then rectifies the angles, and the suspension components get adjusted accordingly. The steering wheel is also positioned accurately to match the new alignment settings.
Conclusion
Tyre maintenance goes beyond simple checks and inspections. It is a comprehensive service that ensures the condition of car tyres. Thus, it follows a systematic approach. This includes detailed visual checks, precise air pressure inspections, and technical corrections such as wheel balancing and alignment. As long as a driver follows the procedure, the vehicle will remain safe and efficient. Moreover, it is not only crucial for tyres but for the overall safety of the vehicle, its driver, and others on the road. Thus, car owners need to take tyre maintenance seriously.
