How to Check Your Tyre Tread?
This particular article focuses on measuring the tyre tread to determine the overall health of tyres. A popular technique being followed worldwide includes a coin to measure the tread and calculate the age of the tyre. A much more accurate and reliable way to measure the tyre tread is by a gauge. Make sure that the gauge is levelled at zero points before you use it to measure the tread. In most of the countries, vehicles cannot travel on the road if the tread measurement is around 1.6mm. The ideal and right time to change tyres is when the tread is between 2.5 to 3mm. This is because the braking distance of your car will increase if the tread falls below 3mm.
If the tyre pressure is more than the optimal pressure, the tyre would have grated more from the middle rather than from the sides. The advice here is to check the pressure regularly and keep it at the optimal level. This will prolong the life of your tyres and save you from getting into a road accident. Moreover, if the measurement of the tread is different for all four tyres, then it means that the wheel alignment is not right. The best way to gauge whether the wheel alignment is not right is while driving. The car usually gets pulled either in the right or left direction. Make sure the wheel alignment is right to prolong the health and life of your tyres.
Every owner must be acquainted with the coding mentioned on the tyre. This code contains valuable information that comes in handy, especially while buying new tyres. Coding is mentioned on the outer sidewall of the tyre. For example, 155/80R13 means that the tyre’s width is 155 and the aspect radial is 80. The R13 means that the tyre is radial and has a diameter of 13. Another code that can be seen on the sidewall is 79T, which means that the tyre must not be exposed to speeds of more than 79 miles per hour.
Furthermore, the sidewall also contains information on the maximum amount of load that can be borne by the tyre. The tyre code also tells the date of production of the tyre and reveals the number of week and year. Another tip to prolong the life of your tyres is to rotate them after every 10,000 km. This will have relatively equal wear and tear effect on all tyres. The front tyres get grated more compared to the rear ones. This is because the front tyres turn. Refrain from over-inflating the tyres in summers especially. This can lead to bursting of the tyres on a long route.
For all-wheel and rear-wheel-drive cars, the best way to rotate the tyres is to put the rear tyres in the front and vice versa. Cross the front tyres when you are doing so. The same technique is to be followed for a front-wheel-drive car; however, cross the rear tyres when you are doing so. Always keep the tyre pressure at the recommended level quoted by the manufacturer. You can find this mentioned on either the inside of the trunk or the b-pillar of the car. The shelf life of a manufactured tyre is 6 years.
Stay tuned for more informative content like this one. Tell us about your thoughts in the comments section below regarding how much you have learned about tyres from this article.