The UK is home to some of the most beautiful places in the world: Pembrokeshire in Wales and Dunfermline in Scotland numbering among them. And they are equally beautiful, no matter what time of year you go to see them! But if you are planning a late-late-summer break, or Halloween away from home, there are some pre-holiday tyre care tips you don’t want to miss if you are going to have a trouble-free and relaxed holiday.
Let’s take a look at them.
Tread Depth
Your tread depth might not seem important when you are driving on clean dry roads with little in the way of steep gradients or ice and mud, but they can be vital when it comes to keeping your car on the road under these more stressful conditions – and some of the roads in Wales and Scotland do fit the description of ‘rural’ quite well!
Make sure your tyres are well within the legal limit of 1.6mm (with 3mm being the recommended depth according to many garages and mechanics) at all times, and if your tyres are getting a bit bald, it might be time to consider a new set: you can also find your tyres in Dunfermline from Fife Autocentre’s website. Book online and pay only at the time of fitting.
Inflation Levels
Many parents get very excited during the holiday season and at times they might pump up the inflation level in their tyres above the maximum capacity. This can cause trouble while driving the car as highly inflated tyres are prone to become stiff and may not smoothly roll over the road; while you are on a road journey with your loved ones. In such a situation if your tyres come across a curb or pothole they may blowout or in some situations deform their shape.
Hence, if you are using modern tyres, they are designed to always be kept at optimal levels of inflation, because that is when they work the best, efficiently keeping your car gripping onto the road and reducing fuel consumption, wear and tear and generally keeping you, your car and even other road users safer than they might otherwise be.
Age Out
How old are your tyres? Very, very well-kept tyres can last as long as ten years with care. But this usually means that the car uses winter tyres for some of the time, that the tyres are kept in special racks out of the weather, and that they are carefully fitted and tested before each period of use. But even then, it is a fact that ten-year-old rubber is drier, tends to be more crumbly and is less elastic than new rubber – and this means that even the best kept tyres will begin to fail once this age limit is passed. Normal tyres – those that are kept on the car, driven a moderate amount on safe roads, and that are well-maintained – will last five to seven years with care. As soon as a tyre’s integrity is compromised, you will be facing the annoyance and inconvenience of puncture after puncture until you replace your tyres, so it is best to bite the bullet and replace your tyres as soon as you know they have aged out of their useful life.
Balance and Align
Once your new tyres are fitted, make sure they have been aligned and balanced too – this will keep your car in the best possible condition, with your new tyres all carrying the same amount of weight for even wear and tear, all pulling in the same direction for reduced friction, decreased fuel consumption and greater comfort and quietness to your ride.
Whether you are viewing corgis in their native Pembrokeshire, or enjoying the best of Scottish hospitality in Dunfermline, you will have a much better time if you have the peace of mind of knowing that your tyres are in the best shape possible!
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