How To Prolong Your Tyres Life

Replacing the tyres on a truck or trailer can be an expensive endeavor, which is why preowned equipment buyers are always so keen to know the condition of the tyres. A good set of tyres, with lots of wear life left, affect the vehicle’s traction in adverse road conditions, on-road stability, fuel efficiency, braking, handling, and the vehicle’s overall safety. To ensure that you get the most from your tyres, follow these simple tips.

Avoid Cheap Tyres

When it comes to buying commercial-grade tyres, your options all tend to fall within a similar price range. However, there are usually one or two models that are significantly cheaper than the rest. Try to avoid these bargain tyres. They’ll often wear out quickly, limit your load capacities, and may not be rated for commercial use.

Replace Tyres In Pairs

Another way of saving money is buying tyres one-at-a-time. Avoid this. Replace tyres in pairs, so if you’re replacing one due to premature or uneven wear, you should also replace the tyre on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Take A Closer Look

Visually inspect your tyres, including the stems, whenever you plan to be on the road. For the vehicles you own or use regularly, periodically measure the depth of the tread using a tread depth meter. All tyres feature wear markers that you can locate using arrows on the upper sidewall. Check the tread wear in multiple places on the tyre and replace if any area shows less than 2 millimetres of tread. Uneven tread wear can result from different driving styles, regularly towing heavy loads, poor alignment, or worn-out suspension.

Periodically getting your tyres professionally inspected is vital. These inspections can ensure that the tyres are properly balanced to prevent the vehicle from shaking, wobbling, or shimmying excessively. This movement can also generate uneven tread wear.

Keep Your Tyres Properly Inflated

The amount of air you put into a tyre has a big impact on how evenly its tread wears out. Always follow the tyre’s or vehicle manufacturer’s specifications regarding the amount of tyre pressure to maintain. You can usually find this information in the owner’s manual or on a sticker inside the vehicle’s door frame. Under-inflated tyres result in excessive shoulder wear, decreased fuel efficiency, and your vehicle’s engine having to work harder due to the greater rolling resistance. Over-inflated tyres result in excessive center wear. Check your tyres at least once a month with a reliable pressure gauge and release excess pressure or inflate them as needed. The air in tyres will tend to expand in hot weather and shrink in cold weather, resulting in higher and lower tyre pressure, respectively.

Monitor Your Speed & Load Capacity

The driver’s personal driving style has a big impact on tyre life. Braking sharply, accelerating quickly, changing lanes abruptly, and taking turns at high rates of speed can all contribute to premature tyre wear. Running a vehicle or trailer with heavy loads puts more pressure on air-filled tyres, resulting in the tyres running hotter and shortening wear life. If the load is excessive, the tyres can even burst. Also, improperly balancing the load in a trailer or truck can put excessive pressure on different tyres, potentially damaging them or wearing them out more quickly. Driving above the posted speed limit puts a lot of excess stress on tyres, compromising the vehicle’s safety.

Rotate Those Tyres

No matter how properly or safely you drive, the front and rear axles and right and left sides of your vehicle put differing amounts of wear on different parts of the tyres. This is why rotating the tyres of your truck or trailer is so important. You should rotate your tires every 9,000 to 12,000 kilometres, and if you plan ahead, you can often align these service tasks with another periodic service appointment.

Get The Right Tyres

Not all tyres are created equally. Climate-specific tyres, such as winter tyres, will generally perform better in cold, wet, and freezing conditions. All-weather tyres are good to use where the climate is more varied year-round. Keep in mind, the air temperature, weather conditions, excessive sun exposure, and typical road materials (gravel, asphalt, concrete, dirt, etc.) will all have a negative impact on the life span of your tyres. Consult a qualified service technician for advice on which tyres to buy for your area.