Travel and Leisure

A good automobile will last for as long as 15 years or more, but that is not true about the tyres. Depending on the composition and treads, a tyre will last for as much as 50 or 60,000 miles. This could mean that it will have to be replaced every three years or so. These automobile necessities don't come cheap and a smart car owner will find ways to make his or her wheels last just a little bit longer.

An obvious way would be driving a car only when necessary, but that probably isn't too practical. Our society is very mobile and people will drive distances that in earlier times would take nearly a day to travel. The way a person drives plays a major role in determining how long a set of tyres will be safe to ride on. Rapid turns, slamming on the brakes, or rabbit quick starts might work in an auto race, but shouldn't be part of a Sunday trip to see the relatives. Sensible driving also means avoiding debris in the road and potholes.

Air pressure has to be properly maintained. Tyres that are under or overinflated wear out quicker. A monthly check on the pressure doesn't take that long. It can, however, extend the life of the tyre. Something else that impacts longevity is the wheel alignment. Poor alignment can create considerable tread wear and aligning the tyres properly so that weight is evenly distributed should be part of any routine check-up. Rotating the tyres is a very simple way to increase the overall life. What this means is that the front tyres may be exchanged for the back ones so that the wear on the tread is more evenly distributed. It is recommended that such a rotation should be done every 6000 miles or so.

Car owners have to realize that ultimately tyres will have to be replaced. Routine inspections ought to be conducted and the tyre replaced when it is apparent that the rubber will no longer meet the road properly. These checks are pretty much visual inspections of the condition of the treads and whether or not they are still deep. If, during one of these inspections, tiny bits of glass or even a nail is discovered in the tread then these should be removed and a patch be placed on the surface where these pieces of road rubbish have been found. That way, any slow leaks will be stopped.

Tyres need to be attended to and not taken for granted. This doesn't take lots of work, but it does mean lots of attention. Car owners should note the mileage on the car when these items are purchased and budget for replacements as the odometer indicates the wheels have been driven on for over 10,000 miles. A good set of tyres can last up to four or even five years. It just takes a little bit of cautionary driving combined with routine maintenance and inspection to keep the rubber wheels rolling.