|
The condition of the tyres
affects your car's performance and your safety. |
Sub-standard tyres will:
- Cost you money
- Affect your car's stopping and handling ability
- Place your life at risk
|
- Don't forget to regularly align
your car's wheels.
|
|
Caring for your car's wheels
and tyres |
Check your tyres and wheels once a month for:
- Irregular wear
- Correct legal tread depth of at least 1.5mm over the whole
tyre
- Correct tyre pressure
- Objects such as nails/glass in the tread
- Sidewall damage
- Stone damage
- Wheel damage
- That the wheel nuts are tight
|
Check the tyres regularly |
|
Inflating your tyres |
Tyres should be inflated to the vehicle manufacturers recommended
pressures.
- Tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyre is cold.
- Always use dust caps on the tyre valves. These prevent dirt
and moisture entering the valve mechanism where it will cause
damage.
- Don't forget the spare tyre!
|
Make sure your car's tyres
are inflated to the correct pressure |
|
What happens if tyre pressures
are wrong? |
Overinflated tyres
- Makes the tyre hard and less flexible giving you a more uncomfortable
ride.
- Causes more wear in the centre of the tyre.
- Reduces the tyre's grip.
Under-inflated tyres
- Causes more wear on the shoulders of the tyre.
- Makes the tyre flex more and this generates excessive heat.
- Excessive heat damages the tyre and increases the risk of
the tyre failing catastrophically.
|
|
|
What tyres should I use? |
Get the tyre that best suits the type of driving you do, i.e.
high performance, touring, commuter, off road, or around town. |
Use the correct tyres for
where and how you drive |
How to increase tyre life
 |
Have your tyres rotated regularly
The purpose of tyre rotation is to equalise tyre wear. This,
in turn , will increase the overall life of the tyre.
Tyres should be rotated every 10,000 kilometres. If you drive
hard or in harsh conditions or hard driving, you should rotate
the tyres more frequently.
Tyre pressures and wheel balance should be rechecked after
each rotation. |
Rotate the tyres regularly |
|
Can I mix tyres? |
Never mix tyres on the same axle.
You can have a matched pair on the front and a different but
matched pair on the rear.
- Always put the ‘higher performing’ pair on the
rear axle, ie directional tread on the rear, non-directional
tread on the front
- The VR speed rating goes on the rear. The HR speed rating
goes on the front.
- Low profile/Wide tread go on the rear. High profile/Narrower
tread go on the front.
- New tyres go on the rear; part worn tyres on the front.
- Never mix cross-ply tyres with radial tyres.
|
|
|
Space saver tyres |
Space saver type tyres are strictly for emergency use only
Do not use space saver tyres:
- At high speed
- For extended periods of time
- For long distances
It is important to get the normal tyre repaired and back on
the car as soon as possible. |
Use with care |
|
|
Further information on wheels and tyres can be obtained from
the following links. Please note SmartDriver does not endorse
the advice or take responsibility for maintenance, updates and
content of these sites.
New Zealand
This webpage provides general advice and guidance
on tyres
|
|
