FAQ's
Right time to replace or change my tyres?
- Quick and easy....... If they are warped, bowed, or have flat spots.....Change them.
- If you can see radial wire.....Change them.
- If they have bad sidwall damage........Change them.
- If the tread is worn.....Change them.
- If tyres older than 5 or 6 yrs should be replaced even if the tread depth is ok. .....Change them.
- Depending on what type of vehicle you have Truck, SUV, Car/Sedan, or performance car differs how often you should change the tires. Also the brand of the tires will also determine this. So the average was around 30,000 to 40,000 km so we would suggest that you get new tires every 30,000 to 40,000 km.
A quick way to judge the tread - Take a Rs. 5 coin and hold it to where Rupiya is facing down. Insert it in the groove of the tire at various points on the tire. If you can see his entire Rupiya that means tyre grooves have less than 1.6 mm rubber left now this reduces the grip and braking of tyres which increase your chances of accident it's time for a new set of tires.
What do mean by Nitrogen? Compressed air is your tire’s worst enemy. Air is about 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, and 1% Other. Nitrogen is inert, non combustible and non corrosive. Oxygen, on the other hand, is immensely destructive to rubber and other tire materials. As soon as a tire is manufactured and exposed to air, the effects of “Oxidation” begin to deteriorate the rubber.
Over time it loses its elasticity and strength, just like an old rubber band you’ve probably found around your home. This same process occurs in tires inflated with air as the Oxygen attacks the rubber molecules, working from the inside out, until the Oxygen, and its destructive properties, permeates the tire structure and ultimately the tread.
Why Maintenance of tyre pressure is important?
- Underinflated tyres wear prematurely.
- Underinflated tyres can be dangerous.
- Underinflated tyres hurt fuel economy.
What do you mean by Alignment & Balance? Wheel alignment and Wheel Balancing are two totally different things, but many people often get them confused.
In a nutshell, wheel alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. The purpose of these adjustments is maximum tire life and a vehicle that tracks straight and true when driving along a straight and level road.
Wheel Balancing - on the other hand allows the tires and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. This is accomplished by checking for any heavy spots on the wheel-tire combination and compensating for it by placing a measured lead weight on the opposite site of the wheel from where the heavy spot is.
The symptoms of a car that is out of alignment are :
- Uneven or rapid tire wear
- Pulling or drifting away from a straight line.
- Wandering on a straight level road.
- Spokes of the steering wheel off to one side while driving on a straight and level road.
The symptoms of a wheel that is out of balance are :
- Vibration in the steering wheel at certain highway speeds.
- Vibration in the seat or floorboard at certain highway speeds.
- Scalloped or cupped wear pattern on the tires.
Wheel Alignment : To find out if you need an alignment, first check each tire and look for uneven wear patterns. The problem with this method, however, is that if you can see a wear pattern like the ones listed below, it may be too late to save that tire. This is why it is a good idea to have your alignment checked periodically.
At each tire, take a coin and insert it in the tread at the inside, center and outside.
If the tread is deeper on the edges than in the center, the tire is over inflated.
If the tread is deeper in the center than the edges, the tire is under inflated.
If the tread is deeper on one side than the other, have your wheel alignment checked soon.
Run your hand back and forth across the tread, being careful not to cut yourself on any debris or exposed steel belt wire. If the tread is smooth in one direction, but jagged in the other you have what is called a "Saw-tooth" wear pattern which is caused by a toe-in problem. Have the alignment checked as soon as possible as this condition causes rapid tire wear.
The first two conditions do not call for a wheel alignment but the second two do. If these wear patterns are pronounced, you should replace the tires or move them to the rear before aligning the car. Ask your alignment specialist to be sure.
Another indication of an out-of-alignment condition is a car that continuously drifts or pulls to one side of the road when you let go of the wheel. A car that is hard to keep in a straight line without constant steering corrections is also a candidate. These conditions may or may not also contribute to premature tire wear.
A wheel alignment cannot be done on a car with loose or worn front end parts. The technician will first check for worn parts and inform you of any problems before beginning the alignment.
The best type of wheel alignment is a four wheel alignment. Many cars today have adjustable rear alignment settings, but even for cars without adjustments in the rear, a four wheel alignment will allow the technician to identify any rear tracking problems and compensate for them with adjustments to the front.
After the wheel alignment is finished, you should drive the car on a straight and level road and check that the car goes straight and that the steering wheel is in the proper position with the spokes level. If you notice a problem, take the car back and have the technician drive it and fine-tune the alignment settings.
Wheel Balance : Out-of-balance tires will cause a car to vibrate at certain speeds, usually between 50 and 70 mph. A tire is out of balance when one section of the tire is heavier than the others. One ounce of imbalance on a front tire is enough to cause a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel at about 60 mph. To balance a wheel, the technician will mount it on a balancing machine which spins the wheel to locate the heavier part. He will then compensate for the heavy part by attaching a lead weight on the opposite side. Many people are pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives after balancing all four wheels.
Most high quality tires will hold their balance fairly well and go out of balance very gradually. If you notice a vibration that wasn't there the day before, it is possible that one of the lead balancing weights fell off. If you feel the vibration mostly in the steering wheel, the problem is most likely in a front wheel. If the vibration is mostly in the seat, the problem is probably in the rear.
For those of you who are very sensitive about vibrations and your shop can't seem to get that last bit of vibration out, check to see if you have locking wheel lugs. Some locking lugs are as much as 1.5 ounces heavier than the other lug nuts which translates to about 1/2 ounce at the wheel rim. Try putting a 1/2 ounce weight opposite the locking lug and see if it helps.
Tyre Maintenance Guide
- Wear out of Tyres - These are very common. Even a single wear of tyre can prove to be fatal as it may burst. So it is necessary to keep an eye on the tyres constantly. The air in it should be checked.
- Air Pressure in Tyres - Less or excessive air pressure in tyres can again be very dangerous as the car can swerve on road. This also has great effect on the fuel consumption by the car. So air pressure should be checked from time to time.
- Overloading & Overheating - This may have an additional pressure on the tyres & can lead to damage of tyres. Again this is an avoidable situation. So you can easily do so.
- Replacement - Replace the tyres of the car every 10 years. This all depends on the condition of the roads, weather & your driving skills.
- Breakage Cuts or Cracks on tyres - If they are present on tyres, immediately take action to replace them. This is an emergency condition & ignored can lead to severe accidents.
- Replacement tips - While replacing without the help of mechanic, take care of bolts. They should be of right size. It should be tight enough & mounted on the rims with correct width.
- Rotation of tyres - In case of any wear & tear of any tyre, rotate them. This is important to expose all the tyres equally to the adverse conditions.
- Alignment - Try to maintain a proper alignment as this is important for better handling of the car.
- Puncture - If there is a puncture, show that to a mechanic as something it may cause internal damage & can be fatal. Also carry a extra tyre with you which can be helpful in case of long journey.
- Parking tips - This is also equally important. Don't park it on the Oil, Solvents etc as they may damage tyres.