It’s important to stay on top of monitoring the condition of your tyres to ensure that you are safe on the road. As a Motability Scheme customer, your worry-free package includes replacement tyres for general wear and tear and damage through normal use. In this article our Scheme partner, Kwik Fit have put together 7 simple tips to help you keep your tyres in good shape.
Tyres are one of the most important parts of a car. Unfortunately, many drivers fail to look after them properly, which can have serious consequences. Not only can it can compromise the performance of the vehicle and result in costly repairs, but it could also end up putting yourself and others at risk of a road accident.
If you want to keep your vehicle safe and roadworthy for longer, it’s crucial to ensure that your tyres are maintained at all times. Here are a few simple steps you should take to keep your tyres in tip top condition.
1. Check the pressure regularly
Tyre pressure can have a significant impact on your car’s steering, handling, braking and mileage. If tyres are under or over inflated, it can increase fuel consumption and make them more susceptible to wear and tear. At worse, having the wrong pressure can result in a blowout, which can cause you to lose control of the car.
To avoid putting yourself and any passengers in danger or having to call for breakdown assistance, it’s important to make sure that you check your tyre pressure at least every month, including the spare. You should also check the pressure before long journeys or if your car is carrying a heavier load than usual.
The pressure can be checked at your local petrol station or with your own pressure gauge and must be done when the tyres are cold to ensure you achieve an accurate reading. The owner’s manual should include recommendations for the optimum tyre pressure for your vehicle if you are unsure. It’s also worth bearing in mind that the pressure number marked on the tyres is the absolute maximum the tyre can take and should not be used as an indicator for daily use.
2. Check for damage and unusual wear and tear
It’s also important for drivers to do a physical check of the tyres and look out for any signs of unusual wear or damage. This can include cuts, bulges or any objects that have punctured the tyre. If you notice any of these problems, you will need to get them checked by a professional mechanic and repaired if necessary. In some cases, the tyre will need to be replaced altogether with a new one.
3. Make sure there is enough tread
Tyre treads have a direct impact not only on the performance of your car, but also its overall safety, especially in poor weather conditions. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, so it’s important to make sure that it does not go below this limit. If the tread is at or below the minimum depth, your tyres will need to be replaced straight away.
Remember, driving a car with tyres below this limit is not only illegal but also extremely dangerous and will cause your car to fail its MOT test. Having the correct depth is essential to ensuring good control and maximising the safety of your vehicle.
Tyres and your Motability Scheme car
Legally, tyres need to be replaced when the tread depth falls to 1.6mm on 75% of the contact surface. However Kwik Fit will replace tyres on Motability Scheme cars when the depth falls to 2.0mm.
Overloading your car can be more hazardous than you may at first think. A vehicle that is carrying a lot of weight can compromise the handling and cause excessive wear on the tyres due to excessive heat. This could cause a tyre explosion and put you at danger of having a road accident.
Luckily, most tyres now include a label which will have the tyre load index marked on it. Take care not to exceed the recommended amount. You may also be able to find out how much weight your car can safely handle on the placard on the door frame.
5. Keep your wheels aligned
Having your wheels out of alignment can also create problems for your tyres. Incorrectly aligned tyres can result in uneven wear, which can weaken them and make them more prone to damage. It can also reduce the driver’s control of the car and increase fuel consumption.
When you are having your vehicle looked over or having new tyres put on at a garage, make sure the alignment is checked and adjusted if needs be.
6. Be mindful when mounting the kerb
Whether you’re pulling up to park on a busy street or you’re trying to get around an obstacle in the road, sometimes mounting the kerb can be unavoidable. However, it’s important to be mindful when you’re manoeuvring your car in this way – especially if you want to keep your tyres in tip top condition. Mounting the kerb can cause the tyre’s sidewall to become pinched between the kerb and the wheel, causing them to weaken and potentially resulting in a tyre blow-out.
Ideally, you should avoid mounting the kerb altogether, but if you have to, make sure you’re careful in your approach. Climb the kerb slowly at an acute angle and ensure you don’t scrape up the side of the pavement to avoid damaging your tyres.
7. Maintain good driving habits
As well as basic maintenance, it’s also important that you practice good driving habits to keep your tyres in top condition. Excessive braking or acceleration while driving, or constantly stopping and starting in traffic, can have a detrimental effect on your tyres and cause them wear more quickly.
With that in mind, try to drive as smoothly and consistently as possible and avoid excessive speeds. You should also try to avoid any uneven road surfaces and hazards such as potholes and take care to slow down for speed bumps to prevent the wheels from being knocked out of alignment.
Of course, these are just a few ways in which you can make sure that your tyres are in good condition, but they should give you some ideas of how you can improve the performance, comfort and safety of your vehicle. For more information or advice on tyre maintenance, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our experts here at Kwik Fit today.
Kwik Fit and the Motability Scheme
With tyre replacement included as part of your lease agreement, Kwik Fit can get you back on the road as quickly and safely as possible. Puncture repairs, wheel balance and replacement of stolen or vandalised tyres is also included in the lease package. There are 607 Kwik Fit centres across the UK, all open seven days a week. If you are a Scheme customer and would like to book an appointment, you can do so here.
Find your nearest Kwik Fit Centre
If you are not a Motability Scheme customer and would like to find out more about what’s included in the lease, request an information pack or find out more on our website.
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