What Affects The Life Of Car Tyres?
Tires, one of the most important elements of a car, can wear out and affect the overall efficiency of your vehicle. They are a fundamental part of your car as they help you maintain the car’s stability and also provide the necessary grip for the car to operate properly.
The first thing that you need to keep in mind is that tyres are not indestructible. They too, like any other mechanical device, will wear out with time. The most common reason for tyre wear and tear is the friction it experiences with the road.
This friction wears out the rubber and reduces its resilience, eventually resulting in tyre malfunction. Moreover, the life of your car tyres is also largely determined by your driving habits. If you drive your car in a way that causes frequent wear and tear on the tyres, they’ll likely wear out faster.
Excessive speed, frequent braking, and cornering at high speeds are some of the activities which wear out the tyres faster. Let’s take a look at some major factors that affect the life of your car tyres adversely and indicate getting them replaced at a car tyre shop.
1. Match and Installation
You must have the right type of tyre installed in your vehicle. Each tyre has different patterns, sizes, and loading capacity which also differs across brands. Mixing different tyre technologies and construction techniques of different brands disturbs the entire balance and performance between the four tyres and negatively impacts the lives of all four tyres.
2. Tyre’s Pressure
Over-inflation is just as detrimental to the life of a tyre as under-inflation. In both scenarios, the tyre is operating at an unnatural pressure and as a result, the tyre is subjected to excessive wear and tear. The most common symptom of over-inflation is excessive wear and tear on the shoulders and tread of the tyre. The radial deformation in over-inflated tyres is also accelerated to a much greater extent than under-inflated tyres.
3. Loading Capacity
The maximum load capacity of your car tyres is indicated by the load index specified on the sidewalls of the tyre. The load index indicates the maximum weight of the vehicle which the tyre can carry at a given speed. The higher the load index, the higher the loading capacity of the tyre. However, it also means that the life of your tyres will be reduced if you exert more than the recommended load on the vehicle.
4. Alignment of Wheels
The alignment of the wheels of the vehicle to the vehicle axle can have a major role in the longevity of tyres. This is because when the alignment of your car tyres is correct, the contact between the tyre and the road is uniform with no uneven pressure on the tyre. This in turn helps to maintain your car’s balance and reduces the chance of the tyre getting damaged.
5. Chassis Condition
The chassis of your car is the primary link between the wheels and the road. It consists of the suspension system, the braking system, the steering, and the transmission. All these components work in tandem to provide you with a smooth ride and optimum handling. The condition of these components has a direct impact on the life of your tyres.
Final Words
To ensure that your driving experience is comfortable and safe, investing in a top tyre brand is surely worth it. Now when you know about the factors that affect your tyre’s life, you can take better care of them and get necessary maintenance tasks done promptly.