Because of the challenging economic climate in South Africa, anything that can save a motorist money is good news. You’ve probably heard about fuel-efficient cars saving costs, but what about tyres? Properly maintaining your tyres can not only save you money in the long run, but also ensure your safety on the road.
Read on and learn more about how to take care of tyres and save money. 1
What’s the condition of your tyre treads?
If you look after tyres, they will look after you – over a much longer period. It’s important to keep an eye on the tread depth of your tyres. Regularly inspect the entire tyre surface for any signs of irregular wear and tear and remove any lodged objects, such as nails and stones. 1
Minimising wear and tear of tyres
Do this by rotating the tyres regularly. This helps to evenly distribute the wear and tear on your tyres, extending their lifespan. Periods between rotations vary but should be shorter when travelling regularly at high speeds. Tyres on a front-wheel drive car wear differently compared to rear tyres. Front tyres pull, whereas the vehicle pulls the rear tyres. Rear tyres never rotated to the front position in front-wheel drive cars eventually become unusable. 1
Regularly check tyre pressures
Another way to save money on your tyres is to ensure they are properly inflated. Keep tyre pressures at recommended levels to avoid unnecessary wear and tear and higher fuel consumption. Many modern cars have electronic tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). But, when at a garage, preferably use your pressure gauge to measure tyre pressures. This is because the air pressure gauge at a garage may be uncalibrated, and may deliver the incorrect tyre pressure.1
How can I find out what air pressures to apply?
Either look in your car manual or on a sticker on the side of the driver’s front door. Check the manual to understand what to increase the tyre air pressure to when using your car to carry heavy loads. 1
Avoid underinflated tyres
Due to the extra friction on the road, underinflated tyres cause the engine to work harder and can increase fuel consumption by as much as 3%. Underinflated tyres also wear out more quickly. 1
Check tyre treads regularly
Lastly, it is important to keep an eye on the tread depth of your tyres. Ensure that the tread depth across the entire width of the tyre is not less than the legal requirement. The legal limit for tread depth in South Africa is 1.6mm, and when the tread depth of a tyre falls below this limit, it must be replaced. 1
Which new tyres should I buy?
Avoid buying tyres with high rolling resistance because they’ll make the engine work harder—instead, select tyres with low rolling resistance. Buying lighter tyres will also save on fuel in the long run as the car itself will be lighter. 1
Choosing longer-lasting tyres
Touring tyres are an excellent choice for those constantly travelling long distances, providing comfort, and reducing fuel consumption. In contrast, performance tyres have a much-pronounced tread for more excellent grip and off-road handling but cause higher fuel consumption. 1
Drive gently
Making tyres screech through rapid acceleration or heavy braking will reduce their life. In contrast, gentle acceleration and smooth braking will prolong it. It goes without saying, avoid potholes, if you can, as they can damage tyres. 1
Disclaimer
This article’s aim is to show how to save money by looking after your car’s tyres. 1
Protecting your car’s tyres is crucial to road safety. In the same way, protecting your vehicle with quality insurance is financially essential. Contact us at PMD and learn more about our affordable car insurance products with unique benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.
If you wish to purchase a financial services product, make sure you make the right choice by consulting a certified financial advisor for professional advice.
Source:
1https://news.goodyear.eu/en/preparing-your-car-for-the-end-of-lockdown-uk-2/
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
