Tire Care

Tires are a big investment, yet everyone takes them for granted. This crucial automotive part is an essential element for a safe and comfortable drive with very little noise.  Most people operate on the “fit it and forget it” mode when it comes to their tyres, but still want them to last long or at least through their entire warranty period. Tire maintenance is easy and just requires a few simple steps to be followed. Here are a few tips you can use to ensure your tire lasts long and offers a safe and happy drive always.

• Wheel alignment: 

Driving with a wheel misalignment is like walking with one foot skewed out to the side. It is not only difficult to walk but the misaligned foot also faces a higher amount of friction, usually at the heel. In case of a wheel misalignment, one tire is tries to steer the vehicle in on direction and while the other three tires try to drag it down the road. Soon, the tread of the misaligned tire will be scrubbed off along the outside or inside edge. When a driver notices persistent pull to one side or the need to hold the wheel off-center while driving in a straight line, chances are that the wheels need aligning. Wheel misalignment can happen to the best passenger car tires, and it is wise to not put off this vital automotive maintenance.

• Proper inflation: 

Improperly inflated tyres are a hazard. Their uneven tread and altered footprint leads to uneven wear. In addition, poorly inflated tires cos the owner money due to higher rolling resistance and poor fuel economy. Improperly inflated tires are also the cause of premature tee failure due to stress from stress from overheating. It is advisable to check one’s tire inflation levels at least once a month, using a good quality tire gauge.

• Tire rotations: 

Contrary to popular belief, cars do not have 50/50 weight distribution from front to rear. Even the best passenger car tires do not wear the same way. The front tires see stresses from braking and cornering, while rear tires see different types of wear altogether. Rotating ones tires after every 5,000-mile interval ensures that the tires wear evenly wear and provide better drivability and handling. 

• Clean tires: 

This may seem counter intuitive as tires are meant to get dirty, but cleaning them from time to time prevents corrosion and ensures a longer life.

Tires are easy to take for granted till we truly land in trouble, like on the side of the road or at our own parking lot, which is unfortunate as it is not difficult to make them provide quality service over a long period of time. This is especially important as tires can cost quite a pretty penny to buy and install. Simply follow the tips mentioned above, keep checking and inspecting your treads sidewalls from time to time, and your tires should be good for many years of good, reliable service!  

The Importance of Tire Inflation

Cars are an indispensable part of my life. I love the freedom they give me to go anywhere, anytime I want to! Just fill in some fuel and off I go! However, on my last trip I found that my drive was not as smooth as I would have liked it and the fuel economy was also down from what it was earlier. Worried that something major was wrong with my car, I took it to the authorised tyre dealers where they said that the problem was fairly simple: the tire pressure was off.  Intrigued that such a small issue can cause such a difference in ride experience I asked the in-charge a few questions about tire pressure that he was more than happy to answer.

What is tire pressure?

Tyre pressure is the pressure of the air inside  tire. It is measured by calculating the amount of air that has been pumped into the inner lining of the tire in pounds per square inch (PSI) or BAR pressure. 

Why is it important?

Proper tire inflation distributes the weight of the car evenly across the tread pattern to enhance the stability of the vehicle. Besides that here are a few more reasons why tire pressure is important:

• Fuel economy: Lower tire pressure requires higher fuel consumption to make them move. Much like driving a bicycle with under-inflated tires requires more effort. 

• Handling: An over or under inflated tire is negatively affects handling, cornering and stopping which is in turn a safety hazard. 

• Uneven wearing: Improperly inflated tires wear unevenly, over inflated tires show wear in the middle of the tread while under inflated tires show wear on the outer edges. 

• Expense: Uneven wear and increased fuel consumption can result in higher expenses both on fuel and on new tires.

When to check tire pressure?

One should check tire pressure every 30 days or with every significant change in temperature. Lower temperatures reduces tire pressure so care must be taken during colder months. Also, a hotter tire will have a higher pressure so check your tire pressure when the tires are relatively cold. 

What is ideal pressure?

The best passenger car tires come with the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Check the pressure recommendations on your vehicle and fill your care tires only to the recommended pressure.

What are the exceptions to the rule?

Exceptions prove the rule, even in case of tires. Some exceptions when you should over or under inflate your tire are:

• Off-roading: When travelling over rough terrain, mud or sand, it is advisable to lower your tire pressure to have more of the tread gripping the ground. This should be done in conjunction with reduced speeds since tires will be less responsive. Remember to re-inflate your tire once you hit the highway though!

• Storing the car over long periods of time: When the car will not be driven for long periods, ie, more than 6 months, it is advisable to increase the tire pressure to maximum to make up for any air loss during the storage period.

So as you can see, a well inflated tyre can go a long way in saving you time and money while keeping you safe on the road! Remember to keep your tires properly inflated! Happy driving! 

How To Purchase Tyres

Tyre is the running soul of any vehicle. It is what keeps the rotation on and let it roll smoothly on the roads. The tyre treads and grooves are designed with specific concerns. Such tiny bits in manufacturing are the reasons we get a smooth and easy on-road performance of the automobile.

The credit is shared by both the chassis and the tyre. If any of the part is not made to fir proper, be it the tyre or the metals, the vehicle would lose its life and longevity. Hence, if you see ad notice the nuances, each part of the part is manufactured separately. There are best tyre brands for the black rubber, chassis manufacturers for different kinds of vehicle; truck or car, or van. 

Hence a lot of concern and thought is put into the making of an automobile, our major concern here is to know how to purchase a tyre, and because if you don’t get this one thing correct, you might suffer a huge lose!

Things to keep in mind:

Vehicle: The vehicle you have is the key element to consider while purchasing a tyre. Of course SUV tires cannot be fit in a sedan or a van. The tyres are manufactured such that a different one is made depending upon the weight and type of vehicle. A car tyre would surely be different from that of a racing vehicle. Also, luxury sports vehicle differ when it comes to groves and treads. They have usually smooth treads and deep grooves, whereas the racing cars have no grooves at all!

Terrain: Yes, the kind of terrain which you travel the most, effects the longevity of the tyre. If the roads are not smooth, or you encounter a lot of rocky terrains, special kinds of tyre would be required. The vehicle in such scenario would be the sporty one, and the treads would be smooth. Not much deep grooves, just with the minimum requirement of 1.6mm. In such areas, if groves would be deep, there would be a likely chance of things getting stuck on the tire which can lead to skips and skids.

Weather: It might surprise you but this is one of the most crucial points of tire production.  The kind of weather conditions you live in, effects the tyre wear down. To tackle the same, the manufacturers produce variety of tyres to beat this issue. For instance, there are summer tyres, as in arid regions the roads are more prone to skids. The oil build up mixes with the water and roads become slippery. For winter arenas, with a lot of snow falls, winter tyres come with small grooves, to ensure better grip. For every climate there is a tire!

Pricing: This factor is taken into consideration because purchasing tyres is not a small job. The black rubber is more like an investment, rather than an expense. With proper tyre care, and getting the right fit, it can work for years without causing any trouble. Hence, head for a good tyre brand and chose the right kind of tyre for your vehicle. Suit your pocket, but if you get a little extra with a bit more money, don’t hesitate.

Travel: The kind of travelling you do, also effects the tire. This is more into tyre care. If you travel often, then to check the air pressure, beading and inner tube would be at a higher pace. The same things are required for people who drive, but the level of frequency for tyre check would be less for them.

It is your vehicle, your tyre, your dive, make it smooth and fun. Do think on these points while replacing or purchasing a new tyre. Happy journey! 

Hard Work At Last Noticed

The tyre is the most amazing part of the whole car. If we think about it, then a vehicle be it a cycle can’t move without it! The black rubber has an amazing composition and is not a simple tube with designs. Further, the tube has now vanished and we have tubeless tires. Also, the design is what rocks the tyre and technically is called as the tread of a tyre. Not to escape the fact, how much efficiency it requires to get the perfect tread of a tyre.  And we thought it is just a rubber?

We can’t even imagine how much time it takes to make a single piece of tyre. The best tyre brands have factories across globe. Further, there are 400 factories in the whole world and around a million tyres are manufactured every year! If we talk about the composition, there are three levels of the same!

Level 1: This is focused on the formation of the outer covering of the tyre. It consists of the treads of the tyre. Further, the tread contains grooves. Each tyre be it of any type requires a minimum of 1.6mm width of grooves. However, the width and depth keep increasing with the type of tyres. For the best suv tyres, the depth is given a lot of consideration as the deeper, the better performance.

Level2: Now we enter the inner part of the tyre. This contains the belt. The belt is what provides resistance to punctures and help treads stay flat and in contact with the road. The next part is the inner tube. It is that portion where the air filled and tyre becomes inflated. Also, the tube is made of soft and impermeable material to prevent leakage and ensures durability.

Level 3: Here we consider those parts which connect the tyre to the wheel. A tyre is made to fit inside the wheel via heating, and other processing. However, to handle the pressure and weight there are tyre ligaments for the same! Usually the beads are made for the same. The beads are in contact with the rim of the wheel. It is made of high strength and low flexibility rubber. It ensures no leakage and that the tyres rests comfortably on the wheel.

There is a lot more inside the tyre, but these components are the main parts of a tyre. Further, there are sipes in treads to tackle different terrains and also different climatic conditions. Yes, a particular climatic condition can ruin a tyre. The humidity in the summer and the snow in winters can harm the tyre if no for the sipes.

Another interesting part is the plies. A tyre can lose its alignment with the wheel.it is carbon but, not to forget still a rubber. Hence, to tackle the same ply is there. Plies are layers of cords in a rubber. It helps to hold the shape of the tyre and prevent the rubber from stretching due to inside or outside pressure. Hence, with so much weight of the chassis and also the automobile a tyre runs around the road smoothly.

We hardly, realise the efforts of tyre manufacturers and how much brains goes into making a perfect tyre. So take care of them and maintain the same, because it is the soul of your tyre. 

Types Of Tyres

The tyre brands put their heart and soul to deliver the best in tow product to their clients. Well they put the top notch technology and latest composition articles for their clients. There are about 400 tire factories in the whole world making a million tyres each year. They let the wheels rolling, think about the amount of energy and work they put in to make that wonder happen and automobiles run. So, that’s why they are heavily priced and a tyre blast creates a lot of noise, it’s the hard work crying!

Earlier there were simple tires and now there are performance tires. For you to know the tires differ in every aspect depending upon the kind of vehicle. There are varieties in the same and it as per the demands of the vehicle. You simply can’t put a suv tire into a sedan, it won’t work and also the working of the car would be in problem. So, types of tyre are there depending upon the vehicle and also weather conditions. Yes, there are winter tyres for frosty areas and summer rubbers to provide better grip in arid areas. It is more than what you think. There are wet weather tires for tropical regions to escape the skid and eco-friendly ones to cut down the fuel consumption. So for now let’s focus on vehicle based tyres.

SUV Tyres

You might have come across 4x4 tyres, these are basically suv tyres and are soft tyres. They are used in luxury cars and luxury on road sports automobiles. They come with better grip and the speed traction is very high. Also, SUV tyres are heavy and the rubber is not ordinary.

Performance Tyres

Performance tyres have low speed traction. Usually used for heavy vehicles like trucks, vans and muscle cars.  Also, some luxury cars also opt for the same. They can take load of the vehicles and hence enhance the road performance.  Performance rubbers have low rolling resistance and increased stability. 

Passenger Tyres

Passenger tyres are usually the car tires. Passenger tyres feature the seasonal tyres. There are summer tyres because humidity makes the roads moist and hence provide us with better grip. In winter regions filled with snow, more resistance and traction is required. So to ensure the same there are winter tyres and the wet weather tyres prevents skidding and the grooves are deeper to provide better alignment with the surface.

Now you must be knowing the amount of energy and pressure is put on the tyres and so much hard work is done by the tyre manufacturers and hence they give you the apt performance which makes your vehicle move. It is the heart of the vehicle and still modest enough stay on the surface!

How To Buy Tyres? Tips For Tyres Purchasing.

The gen X is speedy and always moving. What they need in their lives is rapidness, never stopping. If we see, they are inclined towards gaming, racing and cars. Automobile craze is commonly found in the youth. The adrenaline is their power and the adrenaline of the vehicle is its tyres.  It’s the tyre which makes the accelerator speed useful. There are so many tyre brands that you would never run out of variety. 

The tyre market is huge. It is unbeatably fast and always changing. There are number of brands which provide these aureoles for different vehicles and also for different terrains. We got summer tyres, winter ones, 4x4 tyres and many more.

Which one is the best for your vehicle? Here are some points to be considered, while buying tyres online or at a showroom:

Tyre longevity: If your tyre has worked long on different terrains without any depth or water evacuation problem, don’t look for another brand, you just need to replace them with new ones. Harder the terrain, faster the wearing down.

Tread Depth:  Tread depth is important to ensure no water retention and that it glides easily on rocky or muddy areas. Tread depth improves traction and keep the ride smooth.

Size: Size of the tyre completely depends upon the vehicle, if you require soft rides don’t target passenger aureoles. There are tyre size charts for you to check which one fits the best. 

Drive: Ask yourself, what kind of drive you do; a soft on the wheel or firm rides. Light tyres, passenger tyres, or 4 wheel drive tyres, pick your requirement.

Geography: The terrain and topography plays a major role. If you live in an area where rainfall is common, wet weather tyres should be your pick, or in freezing areas look out for winter tyres. There are all season tyres, but for locations with acute climatic conditions, weather specific tyres are preferred.

Fuel Economy: There are tyres which help reduce fuel consumption and increase efficiency. The tyres with high efficiency are preferred now days, but still isn’t the number one reason.

Scan the market: Before you head out to buy these rounder, do a research for yourself. Tyres online shopping is also an option. Read reviews, do thorough study and then opt for the same, rather than relying upon the shop owners.

Purchase Place: If you head out for a showroom, it’s going to cost you a lot. People generally prefer to buy from a local dealer, because you get it half the price. Still, search for the right or get them online!

Old vs New: Sometimes pocket crunch could hinder the purchase. It’s common, and so if you opt for an old tyre for replacement, there isn’t any harm. Just make sure of the tube, used life and how much wear down has already been done.

All these things should be consider while purchasing aureoles. For a layman, as I was one before, a tyre purchase guide is equally important. These are expensive stuff, more like an investment and not getting these right would not only lead to wastage of money, but also harm the vehicle. 

The market is full of dealers, providing this service and installation. Get the right seller, who has good knowledge and suggests the best one for you. In fact, online websites of tyre brands, also provide assistance for the same.

Happy Journey!