With the lockdown extension looming in sight, car and bike owners are potentially looking at another month of complete stagnancy. Now there have been innumerable articles published on the internet about how you should look after your vehicles during this period, but they've all missed out on something really really important- your tyres!
You see this lockdown has the potential to pretty much ruin all the tyres on your vehicle if you don't be careful. That's thousands of rupees of extra expenditure that in these testing times, one should really look to avoid.
You see tyres do need to be looked after just like your vehicle. Looks can be quite deceiving and tyres are definitely a lot more complex than they look.
So here's a detailed guide on the steps you can take to look after your tyres during the lockdown:
Replace The Flat
So these are two cars that were parked right underneath my building. The first one's tyre is completely deflated, probably punctured, while the second is quite low on pressure as well. Now, it is possible that some of your tyres might have gotten punctured just as the lockdown was implemented and have lost air rapidly.
We recommend that you check your vehicle's tyres for any such punctures or any major loss of tyre pressure. If you find a tyre displaying such signs, you should replace the tyre immediately with a spare or repair it yourself with a puncture kit.
The reason we are stressing on replacing/repairing your flat tyres during the lockdown is because a flat tyre can not tolerate the standing load of your vehicle for long. The lockdown is definitely long enough for it to develop cracks and get permanently damaged. So, it's essential that you replace your flat tyres as soon as you can.
Maintain Tyre Pressure If Possible
Now, it is possible that many of you will not have a portable inflator or a pump at home that you can use. But for the ones who do and are simply sitting there with it, please please please go out and fill those poor tyres.
Also See: How To Repair A Puncture On A Tubeless Tyre
Again, proper tyre pressure is essential to help your tyres take the standing load of your vehicle. The lesser the pressure, the more strain your tyre's sidewall and body have to take. Having low pressure is fine if it's for a small time but over a month, it will completely ruin your tyres for good. There is a high probability that your tyres will develop cracks and internal damage if you leave your tyres underinflated for long.
So if you do have an inflator or a pump lying around, fill the tyres till they're at the right tyre pressure. Also, don't forget to share your inflator and pump with others so that they too can keep their tyres healthy.
If, however, you do not have a pump or an inflator and there is no way you can get access to one, two-wheeler owners can simply put their bike on the centre stand to take the weight off the tyres.
Avoid The Sun
UV rays and the sun's heat can wreak havoc on rubber. Do your best to park your vehicle where your tyres do not receive direct sunlight.
The most important thing to avoid is cracking on the tyre wall. This happens when tyres are left unused for a long period of time. When tyres are in motion, anti-UV oxidisation chemicals keep the tyres flexible. However, when they're static, these chemicals are not distributed evenly and dry patches appear.
You, therefore, need to minimise exposure to UV during the lockdown.
Clean Them Up
Just like your car or motorcycle, your tyres too will get dirty and that dirt is going to mess with the outer compound. The more grime, dust and particulate matter that gets accumulated on your tyres, the more the rubber will get spoiled. You should ideally keep them covered and clean them every 3-4 days to increase both the wheel and tyre life.
Move Your Vehicle Weekly For Contact Patch Movement
Tyres are round and their shape is an essential component of their functionality. To maintain this perfectly round shape you have to make sure that no individual patch of the tyre is loaded for an extremely long time.
What happens is, when you leave your vehicle standing for as long as a month or more, the same contact patch or section of the tyre takes the load for the entire time. Thus, there is a high probability that it can deform and change its shape permanently.
So move your car or bike a little every week just to make sure that the same section of the tyre is not bearing the load for too long.
What to do Once the Lockdown is over
Post lockdown, even if you've looked after your tyres carefully, they may still dry up through lack of use. Before taking your car or bike out, look carefully for any cracks or signs of damage. If in doubt, ask your local tyre dealer to check them for you.
Image Credit: discounttire, barum-tyres, otra.ltd
