Monday 2 May 2016

5 Tips for Increasing the Lifespan of a Car’s Tyres



As expensive pursuits go, the cost of running and maintaining a vehicle is already one of the most costly expenditures most people have. Saving money on your vehicles upkeep doesn’t have to impact on safety, and in fact, those who ensure their vehicle is well-maintained will eventually save money in the long term. Here are 5 tips on how to increase the lifespan of your car's tyres with car tyre maintenance anyone can perform.


1. Checking Tyre Alignment



One of the very best ways to lengthen the lifespan of your vehicle's tyres is to get an alignment check done at your local service centre. When tyres are misaligned, the physical tread of the tyre will wear down quicker on one side than the other. This means that your tyres may be perfectly fine on the outside, but not on the inside toe, leading to a safety hazard that could be both expensive and dangerous.

Wheel alignment is not usually something the average motorist will be able to do as it requires the car to be jacked up in order to realign the wheels. Your local Mitsubishi service centre will be able to handle the wheel alignment with ease and the costs involved may well be covered by an extended warranty or service agreement.


2. Check Your Tyre Pressure



Tyre pressure plays an important role in determining how comfortable the ride is, how safely you will be able to drive as well as help improve your mileage on the road. Driving your vehicle with improper pressure in the tyres will leave your vehicle susceptible to these issues, and may have a drastic effect on how the car handles on the road.

Tyre manufacturers and road safety guides always say that you should check your tyre pressure before every journey. Whilst this may sound like an extra hassle in the real world, many people buy simple tyre pressure gauges that are similar in size to a USB stick and carry it with them in their vehicle. There is no short cut to safety when it comes to long road trips, so a little car tyre maintenance will go a long way.


3. Don’t Overload Your Vehicle


Overloading your vehicle has an impact on the way your tyres will be able to react on the road and could impact on how the car handles overall. If a car exceeds its maximum payload capability, dangers start to fall into place when it comes to stopping distance, tyre instability when cornering as well as the increased risk of puncture.

Take care to learn about the maximum load capability of your vehicle which you will be able to find in your service manual, as well as any documentation that came with your tyre purchase.



4. Adapt Your Driving Style



One of the simplest ways to improve your car tyre lifespan is to adapt your driving style to take care of the tyres more. Even Formula 1 racers learn quickly that to keep their tyres in the best condition they need to brake gently and early, as well as accelerate and corner fluidly. Take care to ease the vehicle into motion and corner without excessive speed will greatly improve your tyres health overall, as well as increase the time between tyre changes or repairs.




5. Replace Your Tyres If You See Any Damage



Don’t drive on bald tyres and if you see any wear and tear then take note and get your tyres inspected. Whilst the wear on the exterior of your tyres may be minimal, there might be other things going on inside them. Tyres can be damaged by exposure to weather, especially in extreme conditions such as heat and ice. If you see any signs of cracking on your tyres’ sidewall then get them inspected by your local Mitsubishi garage. If you are in any doubt about the health of your tyres, let the professionals take care of inspection and replacement if need be.


Mitsubishi car maintenance can be tricky to carry out but with the right approach, you can be well on your way to ensuring your vehicle is working well, running smooth and most importantly, safe. If you feel that the technical aspect of inspection is a little too technical, invest some time in finding a respectable garage or Mitsubishi service centre that you can have a conversation about your vehicle, and what you need to do to keep it in tip top order.