Although they have very different designs, you can maintain your motorcycle, car, van or truck tyres in much the same way. In this regard, all automotive tyres should be thought of in the same light. Doing so will help to save money because the longer your tyres last, the less you will spend on them over their life cycle. Along with fuel and insurance, tyres make up one of the most significant costs in road transportation. What should you do to keep your set in tip-top condition?

The Importance of Inflation

Pressure is very important for the longevity of all automotive tyres. If you allow the tyre pressure to drop, for example, you will end up driving on under-inflated tyres. This will mean that more of the rubber of each tyre spreads out onto the road's surface. Because of this, more wear will occur for every revolution of each wheel. In other words, driving on tyres that are beneath the recommended pressure will need to be replaced sooner. Even worse, you will not be able to turn each wheel as efficiently as you otherwise would, which means your fuel consumption will go up. Equally, over-inflated tyres will bow out at the side like a balloon. This means that the entire weight of your vehicle is supported by just a thin section of the tyre. In turn, this patch will wear down prematurely in a ring formation around the wheel's circumference.

UV Exposure and Sidewall Faults

It is also crucial to check the sidewalls of tyres from time to time. All automotive tyres are made from rubber compounds which can — if they are sufficiently exposed to natural sunlight — begin to degrade as a result of ultraviolet radiation. As the compounds in automotive tyres begin to split, so air pushes out from behind, which you will detect as either gouge-like marks or bulges in the tyre's side. Park your car in the shade to help prevent this problem. However, you should exchange any tyres which suffer in this way since it can be dangerous to drive on them.

Consider Your Tread Depth

Tyres wear down over time but you can preserve the tread you have remaining by pulling away from stationary more evenly to avoid wheel spins. Another simple idea is to hang back from the vehicle in front. This means you will be able to ease off rather than braking when the traffic slows, thereby placing your tyres under less stress.

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