Tyre Care Tips for Improving Tyre Performance and Durability

Over the course of different articles, PitStopArabia has repeatedly highlighted how vital tires are. You may recall that the tyres are the only point of contact between the vehicle and the surface. Therefore, no matter how luxurious or high-performance your car is, if the tires are unfit, you will not be able to enjoy the car's performance characteristics. In short, always buy quality tires from trusted sources.

However, this article is not about how important tires are. Instead, the focus of this article is on how to care & maintain your tires. Like all products, they need to be looked after. Otherwise, they will lose their durability and performance characteristics. The lack of care is what prompts many people to change tires frequently.

We come across customers who argue that despite buying tires of premium brands, they do not get the intended performance. Unfortunately, what people need to understand is that even if you are purchasing a Pirelli or Continental tire, you need to take care of them. Otherwise, no matter how premium the brand is, you will face various issues.

Blaming the brand or even the seller is certainly not the right way to look at this situation. This problem is widespread in the UAE as the overall weather & climate conditions have a detrimental effect on the tires. The tires have to be changed earlier than most other countries due to the excessive heat and weather conditions. On top of all this, if you do not take care of your tires properly, you will have to change them earlier than usual.

Therefore, people need to invest in the timely care & maintenance of their tyres. It will improve tire performance & durability. Now, let us take a look at how you can do so.

1. Visual Inspection

Make it a habit to inspect your tires regularly. Twice a month is ideal. Look out for any cuts or any other irregularities. For example, if you run your hand across the tire, you can detect any bubbles or signs of additional damage. Also, a visual inspection will help you see if there any objects lodged into the tires. At times, nails or shattered glass find their way into the tires. You might not realize it until they have done the damage.

2. Tire Pressure

While inspecting your tires, also check the tire pressure. You can quickly tell if the air pressure is too low just by looking at the tires. Likewise, you can use a portable tire pressure monitor to check as well. Many modern vehicles have a built-in tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which checks the tire pressure regularly. Keep an eye on it.

Ensuring the right tire pressure improves the durability of the tyres. The recommended tyre pressure for each vehicle is mentioned in the owner’s manual or the tire placard. This placard might be on the inside of the driver's door, glove compartment, under the hood, or inside the fuel cap.

Keep in mind that overinflated & underinflated tires are equally dangerous. Therefore, always maintain the recommended tire pressure!

3. Tread Depth

Another to keep an eye on is the tread depth. All countries have a minimum tread depth requirement. In the UAE, the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6 mm. However, it is recommended that you change your tires once they reach a tread depth of 3 mm. For motorcycles & commercial vehicles, the tread depth varies. You can conduct a penny test or buy a tread depth gauge to check the remaining depth of your tires.

4. Tyre Rotation

Tire rotation need not be done as frequently as conducting a visual inspection of the tires. Experts usually say that tire rotation must be done between 8,000 km – 15,000 km. The significant difference is due to the varied road conditions, type of vehicle, driving habits, and type of tires, etc. Therefore, taking into account your conditions, make sure that you rotate the tires. Tire rotation is exceptionally vital to tire safety & upkeep. Another added advantage of tyre rotation is that you can visually inspect your tires. Therefore, you can check for signs of any damage.

5. Balancing & Alignment

Tire balancing & alignment are two ways through which you can ensure your tire’s safety and long durability. Vibrations while driving, uneven tread wear, vehicle is pulling to one side are common signs that you may need to rebalance your wheels or get them realigned. Never try to do it at home. Always contact a professional for wheel balancing and alignment.

6. Avoid Overloading

Many drivers tend to forget that like all things, tires, too, have a maximum load capacity. The maximum weight a tire can carry is referred to as the load index. The higher it is, the more weight it can carry. The load index is mentioned on the tire's sidewall. Loading a tire beyond its weight means that its overall life will decrease. Moreover, the tire may suffer from a blowout due to excessive weight.

7. Right Tire for the Right Occasion

Lastly, make sure that you are using the right tire for the right occasion. In simple words, if you plan on driving off-road, equip your vehicle with tires that are made for off-roading. Otherwise, you will simply damage your tyres.

Final Thoughts

This concludes our article today. Let us know what you think about our suggestions by sharing your valuable feedback with us. We hope that you find this article information & use this new-found knowledge to better care for your tires.