It’s important to keep safety in mind when you’re driving. You should always wear a seatbelt, for starters! But tyre safety is also an essential aspect of the car-driving experience. If your tyre pressure isn’t at the correct levels, it can lead to tyre failure and even cause accidents. In this blog post, we list four questions you might have about keeping your tyres safe to protect you and your family while you drive.
Do my tyres have the correct pressure?
Did you know that a tyre that is not inflated enough can wear a lot quicker? So it is crucial to maintain the correct tyre pressure. On average, tyre pressure should be around 30 PSI.
And did you know that a tyre can lose up to 40% of its tyre pressure every month? And even more during the summer months. If you only check your tyre pressures once a year, there’s a good chance that they are already too low!
If a tyre is over-inflated, it can cause the tyre to burst. This might be because of an error with the tyre air pressure gauge or driving on rough terrain that makes your car bounce up and down quite heavily. Not all tyre wear is related to pressure, and if your tyre has worn too much, it can affect how well you control your vehicle. If a tyre needs servicing, this might require inspection by an expert mechanic or tyre specialist.
Is it safe to drive on a punctured tyre?
If your tyre is punctured and you decide to continue driving with that tyre, make sure you replace the tyre as soon as possible afterwards. Driving for too long on a flat tyre can damage the tyre’s inner wall, meaning the whole tyre will have to be replaced. This can be expensive and but it might not be necessary. As soon as you realise you have a puncture, get it repaired as quickly as possible to save you the expense of replacing the tyre.
If you think your tyre is punctured, look for somewhere to pull over safely. Try not to jam on the brakes because you might lose control of the car. Instead, slowly move to the far left of the road, with hazards lights on or indicating what you plan to do. Then pull off the road as soon as it’s safe to do so, and you can stop somewhere where your car isn’t endangering other drivers and where it is safe for you to get out. Change to your spare tyre or call RNM Tyres for help. Try not to drive too far on a flat tyre as this can cause even more damage to your car.
Are my tyres damaged?
It would be best if you inspected your tyres often for any sign of damage. You don’t want to discover that you have damage when you’re are halfway to your destination. The sidewalls on tyres are often more vulnerable to damage than the tread, and even a slight nick could mean trouble. Damaging your car tyres can cause a chain reaction of other car parts being damaged. The tyre walls maintain its integrity, and if there has been any sidewall damage, this could cause further havoc to your wheel arch, wheel and guards that may already have been affected by the initial issue. The sidewall is also the thinnest part of the tyre and, therefore, most vulnerable to damage.
The older your tyres are, they are more susceptible to cracks forming. This can cause tyres to separate and eventually make the tyre blow out. Tyre damage caused by cuts can cause the same problems as cracks. Tyres can be serviced or replaced depending on the size of a cut, crack, or tear.
What are the signs of wear and tear on tyres?
If you regularly check your tyres, you might eventually notice some wear and tear on the tyre. Tyres should be replaced or repaired if they show signs of bulge, cuts/tears, cracks in the sidewall and dry rot. In addition, you must check your tyre pressure regularly as this can affect tyre wear and tear depending on what kind of tyre you have, the climate where you live and the time of year.
In Australia, the tread on your tyres has to be at least 1.5mm by law, but this is the absolute minimum. So it would be wise to aim for at least twice that.
If you notice any signs that your tyres need to be replaced, contact us at RNM Tyre Centre. We’ve got the best service, best prices and the best range of tyres in Sydney.