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“The only things between you and the road are patches of rubber. Make sure your tyres are up to the challenge.”
What the quote means is that no matter the vehicle you are driving, it’s the tyre that touches the road. Therefore, none of them should play down the role of tyres in road safety. However, the tyres undergo a lot of wear and tear when they are running.
- Since your tyres are the only part of your car that makes contact with the road, they are extremely important to your safety, especially on long road trips.
- Certain tyre aspects are necessary for safe and comfortable travel in India due to the country’s varied terrain and challenging road conditions.
- Maintaining your tyres properly can improve your driving experience, reduce your chance of accidents, and increase the life of your tyres.
You cannot do much about the roads, but you can give keen attention to the tyres and have a safe ride out.
Here are recommendations by Tyremarket.com to help you take care of your tyre.
Tips And Tricks To Take Proper Care Of Tyres
There are several factors that affect the overall tyre health and performance. For instance, under-pressure or over-pressure tyres can create unsafe driving conditions. On top of that regular wear and tear along with the unfriendly Indian road conditions in different regions, can affect the tyre grip leading to severe issues.
- Regular Tyre Checks:
Although it’s easy, checking your car’s tyres regularly is sometimes overlooked. By checking your tyres regularly, you can take action on any problems right away. Also, if you are set to embark on a road trip, tyre inspection should be your top priority. Inspections both before and after a trip are crucial for those who enjoy taking extended trips.
By taking these easy steps, you can prolong the life of your tyres and ensure safer travels.
- Keep Checking the Tyre Depth and Pressure:
As you cover the kilometres, the pressure in the tyre changes. Similarly, the pressure also changes with the change in winter and summer seasons. At the same time, the depth of the tyre is affected with regular use. A change in the tyre depth indicates the approximate rubber left on the tyre. Constantly keeping a check on the depth helps you decide whether the tyre is good or you need to change it.
Tip: Keep a tyre gauge in the vehicles at all times for easy use. It will help in measuring the depth and pressure of the tyre.
- Clean and Tidy Tyres for Safe Ride:
There are several elements on the Indian roads that can damage your tyres. For instance, saltwater and sand in coastal areas can corrode and damage tyres over time.
Also, the tyres go through a lot of debris, shattered glasses, fluids and more. All of this constantly hampers the tyre’s performance over time.
By keeping the tyres clean, you can prevent all the dirt and debris from settling on them and thus avoid wear and tear, which can lead to tyre deterioration and failures.
- Wheel Alignment and Rotation
There are various reasons why proper tyre alignment is important. First of all, it guarantees that the tyres are correctly positioned, parallel to one another and perpendicular to the road.
Proper alignment stops the tyres from wearing unevenly, which can happen if they are not aligned correctly. In addition to reducing the tyre’s lifespan, uneven wear affects the car’s handling and fuel economy.
Additionally, driving stability and safety are enhanced by proper tyre alignment. Correct tyre alignment improves the vehicle’s traction on the road and lowers the chance of skidding or losing control, particularly in wet or rainy conditions.
- Keep a Check on the Tread Wear Indicator
It’s normal for the riders to assume that their tyres are in optimal or at least workable condition. However, reality could be far away from this assumption. Unfortunately, every tyre has an expiry date which depends on different factors such as – driving habits, temperature and climate of the region, condition of roads and more.
Every tyre would eventually need replacement. The best way to find if it’s times up for your tyre is to check the tread wear indicator on the tyre. If the indicator is level with the surface of the tread, it’s time to get a new tyre.
- Carry a Spare Tyre
Spare tyres are like a safety net on the road, always ready to catch when you are in trouble.
You never know, a flat tyre incident may be waiting for you on the next turn. Flat tyres waste time and need repair. But what if you have a spare tyre in your ready with you? You can simply replace your flat with the ready spare tyre and get back on the road immediately.
Having a spare tyre and the tools ready in the boot at all times saves time and keeps the car on the road safely.
How to Handle a Tyre Blowout?
Despite all your best efforts, there might be situations when your tyre blows out. So, what do you do when your tyre burst?
While we have given you a guide to help you maintain your tyre health and avoid such situations, here are a few simple steps to take in case of a tyre burst –
Step 1 – Hold correct body posture while holding the steering wheel with two hands. Holding the steering wheel with two hands instead of one allows you to control the vehicle properly.
Step 2 – Remember, many cars are able to maintain their balance even after a tyre burst. SO stay calm and avoid any sudden steering wheel movements.
Step 3 – Gently remove the foot of the accelerator. A sudden release of pressure may disturb the balance of the vehicle.
Step 4 – Do Not Press the Brake Pedal. Control the instinct to press the brakes as it will make the force on one side of the vehicle stronger.
Step 5 – Ensuring you have control over the car, wait for the speed to drop below 40km/hr to 50km/hr after which you can start breaking gradually.
Step 6 – In case the front tyre blows out, engage the hand break only if it influences the rear wheels alone. This will transmit part of the load to the rear axle, removing pressure on the front.
Step 7 – If you are losing control of the car, Speed Up. When the tyre blows out, the vehicle tends to sway on the side of the blown-out tyre. Speeding up stabilises the vehicle and gives it the momentum to go straight ahead. Once the car is stable, start releasing pressure from the accelerator.
Conclusion
Tyre safety is of utmost importance in India. In 2014, in India, approximately 9,748 accidents were reported as a result of tyre bursts killing 3,371 people and 9.081 injured.
The majority of these accidents can be avoided by proper maintenance, including regular checks for pressure and tread depth, cleaning, alignment, and rotation of the tyres. In addition, carrying spare tyres and gaining expertise in managing tyre blowouts are essential precautions for Indian road conditions.
Our expertise and experience at Tyremarket say that safety on the road depends on the condition of your tyres. So, before you go out on your next adventure, make sure your tyres are up to the challenge, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable journey.
