Any motorist who values their safety and that of their car’s occupants must consider their tyres more frequently than they do at present. Tyres are essential to help you get from A to B safely and are just as important on the school run as they are on long motorway drives. A few simple checks are all that is needed to keep your car’s tyres in good working order. A regime of checking them soon becomes habit forming. Adopting one might not just change your life but save it, too!

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Inspect for Cracks

The outer wall of a tyre can become liable to cracking. This is because the compound of rubber that car tyres are made from is susceptible to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet light. In summer, tyre walls that are exposed to the sun begin to disintegrate. The first sign is cracking that appears around the tyre’s circumference. Exchange tyres with this sign of wear.

Look Out for Bulges

Like cracking, bulges tend to appear on the side of tyres. However, bulging is more likely to be on the inside of a tyre where it is harder to spot. Weak areas of a tyre’s wall push out from the air pressure within and become more liable to blow. Use a torch to inspect each inner tyre wall thoroughly.

Misaligned Tyres

When your car’s wheels are not parallel with one another you will find it harder to steer and to swerve safely, when needed. Avoid unnecessary problems by having your car’s tracking checked every few thousand miles or so. This will help to preserve the life of your tyres as well as keeping your car heading in the right direction.

Worn Down Tread

It is not just bald tyres that are illegal to drive on. Some with low amounts of tread depth can land you in trouble with the police, too. Check your tread depth with a special gauge by inserting into the grooves. If you need to replace low-tread depth tyres, then car tyres of all types are available from Point S in the UK where you can input your make and model to easily find out which new tyres will be suitable for you.

Low-Pressure Tyres

Flat tyres are almost immediately obvious by sight, but low-pressure tyres which are partially under-inflated are harder to see. Use the tyre pressure gauge at your local garage next time you fill up with fuel to confirm the correct pressure is maintained. Otherwise, your car will slew when cornering which can be dangerous to all concerned.

Over-Inflated Tyres

Just like under-inflated tyres, over-inflated ones are a safety problem. Too much air pressure will cause your tyres to bow out which means they don’t grip the road as well. In turn, this makes it harder to stop quickly and to remain in full control of your car.

Nails

Running over sharps sticks, nails and screws causes damage to car tyres. Don’t be tempted to yank out anything you see in your tyres because this can make the problem worse. Replace tyres which have debris from the road sticking into them for complete peace of mind.

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