When it comes to tyres, there are a few key factors that that can absolutely make or break your tyre's longevity. Today, we'll be revealing exactly what these key factors are so that you too can get the maximum life out of your tyres.
The Right Tyre Choice
It's important that you choose your tyres wisely according to your circumstances and needs. Each tyre is individualised for a different set of conditions, terrains, seasons and vehicles. You need to be sure that your choice of the tyre is suitable for you or the tyre is bound to fall short of your expectations. It all starts with making the right choice.
Also, make sure that all your tyres are similar with respect to their brand and specifications (size, construction, tread pattern, load index and speed rating). Avoid mixing tyres as much as you can as it will only distort the equilibrium that exists between the tyres. All the tyres on your vehicle have to function together for every task and having different tyres on each wheel will ruin the balance that exists between them.
Regulation Of Tyre Pressure
Regulating tyre pressure is extremely crucial for prolonging tyre life. Overinflation or under-inflation both can cause uneven tread wear on tyres that can accelerate ageing considerably. You can see in the picture above how incorrect levels of pressure affect the contact patch and performance of the tyres.
Under-inflation leads to a bigger contact patch. A bigger contact patch means more heat and more friction for the tyre to handle. It also leads to an increased load on the tyre as a whole due to the lack of air pressure to support the weight. The tyre's cushioning and shock-absorbing capability is also compromised which leads to a lot of pressure on the sidewalls.
Many vehicle owners feel that overinflating tyres is good as they can then carry heavier loads. However, higher than optimal tyre pressure increases the tyre's rigidity which leads to a reduced contact area. This increases the central unit pressure which expedites central tread wear and seriously reduces the comfort and life offered by the tyre. Running your tyres with just 25% of increased pressure can result in a 30% reduction in your tyre life!
Loading practices and Overloading
Each tyre has a fixed capacity for handling loads which is represented by its load index. The higher the load index, the more is the maximum load that can be carried by the tyre. Overloading the tyre beyond its specified load index value will definitely reduce its life span.
Wheel Alignment
A car's wheels are supposed to be exactly perpendicular to the road. There are basically three angles that help us achieve this. These are the camber, caster and toe angles.
Misaligned wheels make car tyres sound louder and wear unevenly, as they aren’t parallel to each other or perpendicular to the ground. As a result, the life of your tyres will decrease. The car may also tilt to one side, which will make controlling the car more difficult. Furthermore, when any of the settings are out of proper alignment, the suspension can also wear prematurely.
Various factors like hitting a pothole, driving against a pavement, suspension wear or even excessive steering can make your car's wheel alignment go haywire.
Also Read: What Does Tyre Size Mean? We Decode The Numbers
Tyre Rotation
Tyre rotation is a process of positionally rotating and interchanging tyres of a vehicle in specific patterns for even tread wear. This pattern of interchanging depends on the kind of vehicle you are having and the rotation process changes accordingly.
Rotating the tyres helps in even tread wear of the tyres which results in increased tyre life and safety. Many companies in fact also include tyre rotation as a mandatory practice if the owner wishes to keep the tyre warranty valid.
Cars with different types of drivetrains have different tyre rotation processes (see pictures above) and it is always preferred that you rotate your tyres as per the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation.
Usually, it is also suggested that you check your wheel alignment, wheel balance and the suspension before rotating the tyres.
Speed
The speed ratings of tyres indicate the maximum speed at which a tyre can maintain its desired performance while carrying a particular load for an ideal period of time. Desired performance here refers to providing proper grip or traction and stability to the vehicle. It is also indicative of the maximum heat it can handle.
To get the maximum life out of your tyres, it is important that you do not drive beyond the speed indicated by the speed rating. This is the maximum speed which the tyre can handle and going beyond that will not only deteriorate the rubber but also put you at a risk of losing traction and suffering from tyre bursts.
Chasis Status
A car is a cohesive unit where each component can have a direct impact on other parts of the car. Similarly, there are several components in a car that can also have a direct impact on tyre life. Front and rear axle parallelity, condition of the brakes, wheel balancing etc are all important variables that can impact the longevity of your tyres.
Terrain condition should match with tyre capability.
Your tyre's compatibility with the roads you run them on is also a huge factor. You need to make sure that your tyres are made for that very terrain. Using highway tyres on rough/off-road terrains, for example, will definitely deteriorate their health. Make sure the roads you drive on are suitable for the tyres on your car. Avoid these roads if they are not suitable or upgrade your tyres to ones that can handle the respective terrain. If you don't do the needful, your tyres will definitely age super fast.
Seasonal Compatibility
Use your tyres only during their prescribed seasons. Using winter tyres in the summer or vice versa will only make their life shorter. Make sure that the tyres you are using are built for the temperature and the climate. All these things impact the efficiency of the tyre as well as its lifespan.
Driving Style
Driving styles vary significantly across individuals but one thing remains certain that a rough/aggressive driving style will definitely take a toll on your tyres. If you drive faster than they can handle, turn harder than they can handle or brake harder than they can handle, your tyres will definitely beg for mercy. Don't push the envelope so far that your driving starts to deteriorate them.
If you don't wish to change however, be ready to buy a set of new tyres every two months. Driving at high speeds on bad roads, hitting curbs regularly and heavy braking are just a few more driving habits that eat away the life tyres.
Image Credits: billingsweekly, steemit, 15min, platinumautoservice, telanganatoday, pinterest
