Tires play an integral part in your car’s performance. Worn out tires can hamper your driving experience and even lead to road accidents. A number of factors can have an impact on your tires, including driving habits and weather conditions. The experts at CarSwitch.com, an online marketplace for certified used cars in Dubai, have gathered some tips on how to maintain and care for your tires.
Rotation: The golden rule is to have your tires rotated every 7,000 miles or so. It can also be done when you go for every second oil change appointment with your mechanic. If you don’t rotate your tires, then you might have to replace one pair of your tires sooner than you have to. Consider rotating both front tires with the rear one. Be sure to choose a trusted mechanic to take care of your alignment and rotation requirements as doing so is another great way to prolong the life of your tires.
Pressure: This cannot be emphasized enough; you should ensure that your tires are at the ideal pressure stated in your vehicle’s manual. If there appears to be a huge difference between the pressure value of your tires and the optimum value stated in the manual, there’s a possibility that you’ve bought tires that are not suitable for your make and model. Ideally, you should check the pressure once a month as well as before and after long trips. You should check it more often during the summer months in the UAE.
It is also important to note that for a more accurate reading you should consider getting the tire pressure checked at least one hour after having driven the car. This ensures that the temperature changes resulting from driving don’t affect the pressure reading.
Load: Many of us don’t realize this but keeping excessive weight in your car exerts unnecessary pressure on your tires. If you often forget to take your shopping out on time or store unnecessary stuff in your car, it might be a good idea to take it out. The lesser the weight, the better it’s for the tires.
Tread: According to car experts, your tire treads should be approximately 1/16 of an inch thick. Anything thinner than this will cause your tires to have much less traction on the road. The old school but effective way to measure this is with a coin the size of a penny. Stick the coin down between the treads and if you see more than half of the coin this means that you need new tires. Traction ensures that you are able to drive safely in differing weather and road conditions. Therefore, it is mandatory to keep track of your tread depth.
The above tips can help ensure that your tires stay in a healthy condition, no matter what the weather conditions. But if your tires are irreversibly damaged, then be sure to replace your tires as soon as possible. If you want to buy certified, well-maintained and pre-inspected used cars in Dubai, do so through CarSwitch.com as we provide a hassle-free and transparent buying experience!
