Care for your tyres this Summer

Care for your tyres this Summer.

Its summer and you’re thinking the roads are clear and dry, I don’t need to check my tyres till the colder, wetter months. This is an all too common scenario when it comes to tyre safety. It’s easy to assume your tyres are fine through the summer months but our hot Australian holiday period can lead to major issues for your vehicles tyres. If you’re on a family road trip or commuting to and from work through the week, a hot day on the roads is the last thing your tyres need. 

Your tyres heat from rotation, plus the added temperatures from the heating road surfaces lead to a rise in air temp and ultimately a rise in air pressure. This rise in your tyres air pressure is a common cause for the dreaded tyre blow-out! A blow-out is a rapid loss of air pressure and at high speeds, can be extremely dangerous to you and your passengers as well as your vehicle and other motorists.

 

Vehicle manufacture’s give a recommended cold pressure indication for the best tyre pressure. This means the vehicle hasn’t been driven for any period of time before the measurement of pressure is to be taken. For the best and most accurate results, record the pressure of your tyres in the early hours of the morning or during the night, or simply when the temperature of your tyres matches the outside air temp. 

It’s best not to reduce air pressure in tyres after driving or if you have warm tyres. Once your tyres cool, they could fall well below the recommended minimum tyre pressure that’s indicated by the manufacturer. In regards in inflation, hot pressure can be up around 20% higher than that of cold tyres and under no circumstances should hot tyres be pressurised to the recommended cold tyre indicator given by the car manufacturer.

Its best to regularly check the pressure of your cars tyres every 14 days (two weeks). By keeping to this routine, you can also get onto any defects or tyre issues early before they become larger problems. Never forget the spare tyre either! You do not want to be on the side of a freeway with a flat or damaged spare tyre. Information about the recommended manufacturer’s tyre pressure can be found in your vehicle owner’s manual or on the tyre information placard found somewhere on your vehicle. The location of this placard can vary depending on make and model. Try one of the following:

• Glove-Box

• On the inside of your vehicles door

• Door jam

• On the inside of your vehicles boot door

If you are unsure of any of this information, its best to speak to a professional. For more information on your vehicle’s tyre pressure, come in and see us today at one of our 5 stores across Melbourne.

Call us today