You’ve probably heard the saying: “Invest in things that separate you from the ground“—like your bed, your shoes, your office chair, and, of course, your car tyres.
These are the essentials that keep you comfortable, safe, and supported every day. When it comes to your vehicle, tyres are the only point of contact between you and the road, making them a critical component of your driving experience, especially in wet conditions.
In this blog, we’ll explore why maintaining your tyres is crucial and offer simple, effective tips to keep them in prime condition, saving you money and keeping you safer on the road.
The Importance of Tyre Maintenance
Taking care of your tyres is about more than just smooth driving—it’s essential for safety, fuel efficiency, and saving money. Here’s why tyre maintenance is crucial:
- Safety First
Tyres are the only part of your car that touches the road, making them critical for your safety. Worn or under-inflated tyres reduce grip, increase stopping distances, and lead to less control, especially in bad weather.
- Improved Fuel Efficiency
Properly inflated tyres reduce rolling resistance, which helps your car drive more efficiently. This means less strain on your engine and better fuel economy, saving you money at the servo.
- Extended Tyre Lifespan
Regular tyre maintenance, such as checking pressure and rotating tyres, helps prevent uneven wear. This extends the life of your tyres, meaning you won’t have to replace them as often.
- Costly Repairs Avoided
Neglecting tyre care can lead to unexpected blowouts or punctures. These issues can damage other parts of your vehicle and lead to expensive repairs.
- Better Handling and Comfort
Well-maintained tyres provide better traction and control, giving you a smoother and more comfortable ride. You’ll notice improved handling whether you’re driving in the city or on long road trips.
5 Key Car Tyre Maintenance Tips
1. Regular Tyre Pressure Checks
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is one of the easiest yet most important aspects of tyre care. It ensures a smoother ride, better fuel efficiency, and extends the life of your tyres.
Under-inflated tyres cause more of the tyre to touch the road, which increases rolling resistance, resulting in poor fuel efficiency and faster tyre wear. On the other hand, over-inflated tyres have reduced grip and are more prone to damage from potholes or rough terrain.
How often should you check your tyre pressure?
Ideally, you should check tyre pressure at least once a month and before long road trips. If you don’t have a tyre inflator at home, you can easily go to most service stations.
Modern vehicles like many Škoda models come with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which alerts you if the pressure drops below the recommended level. However, it’s still a good habit to use a manual gauge for more accuracy.
2. Tyre Rotation and Alignment
Tyre rotation helps distribute wear evenly across all four tyres, which prolongs their lifespan and ensures consistent handling. Since the front and rear tyres wear differently—particularly in front-wheel-drive vehicles—rotating them regularly ensures even wear.
Wheel alignment is also crucial for even tyre wear. Misaligned wheels can cause your tyres to wear unevenly, reduce fuel efficiency, and make your car pull to one side, leading to unsafe driving conditions. Regular alignment checks, especially after hitting a curb or pothole, can prevent these issues.
Proper rotation and alignment can extend the life of your tyres and ensure better control, safety, and fuel efficiency.
How often should you rotate your tyres?
The general recommendation is to rotate your tyres every 10,000 to 15,000 kilometres or as recommended in your vehicle’s owner manual.
3. Inspecting Tyre Tread Depth
Your tyres’ tread depth plays a critical role in road grip, especially in wet conditions. Worn treads reduce traction, making it harder to stop, steer, or handle your vehicle on slick roads.
In Australia, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.5mm, but it’s a good idea to replace your tyres once they reach 3mm for optimal safety.
How to check your tyre tread depth
To get an accurate reading you can use a tyre tread depth gauge tool, which you can purchase at most auto parts stores.
However, to save a couple dollars, you can use a 20-cent coin to also measure tread depth. Insert the coin into the tread grooves, and if the tread doesn’t reach the platypus’ bill, it’s a good indicator to consider replacing your tyres.
4. Visual Tyre Inspections for Damage
A quick visual inspection is one of the easiest things you can do to catch potential tyre problems before they get serious. As you walk to and from your car each day, just take a second to glance at your tyres. Look for anything unusual like cuts, cracks, bulges, or any signs of wear that seem out of place.
Every now and then, though, it’s worth getting up close and personal with your tyres. Take a few minutes to check them properly—run your hand over the surface and check for any punctures or damage you might not notice from just a casual glance. This is especially important if you’ve recently driven on rough roads or hit a curb.
Catching damage early helps prevent costly repairs or dangerous blowouts, keeping you safe on the road without the stress of sudden tyre issues.
5. The Role of Tyre Load and Speed Ratings
Tyres aren’t one-size-fits-all. They come with specific load and speed ratings that indicate the maximum weight they can carry and the maximum speed they can safely handle.
In order to choose the right tyres, you should always opt for tyres that meet the manufacturer’s recommendations for load and speed ratings. Overloading your tyres or driving at high speeds with tyres that aren’t rated for such conditions can lead to tyre failure.
Matching your tyres to the correct load and speed ratings ensures optimal performance and prevents undue stress on your tyres, reducing the risk of failure.
Keep your Tyres Road-Ready with Škoda Perth
Remember, your tyres are the only thing between you and the road, so taking good care of them is crucial.
At Škoda Perth, we offer comprehensive tyre inspections and services to ensure your tyres are always in top shape. Whether it’s tyre rotations, pressure checks, or alignments, our expert technicians will help keep your tyres performing their best in all seasons. Don’t wait for a flat or a blowout—bring your vehicle in for a check, and we’ll make sure you’re ready for the roads ahead.
Book your Škoda Service in Perth today and drive with confidence knowing your tyres are in expert hands.
