Not making the right choices with your tyres could end up costing you a lot of money in the long run. Certain tyre mistakes could also put your safety at serious risk.
Just what are some of the common blunders that drivers make with their tyres? This post explores a few mistakes to avoid when it comes to maintaining and replacing the tyres on your vehicle.
Not checking tyres before a long journey
Tyres should be inspected regularly, but it’s particularly important to check them before a long journey. A road trip could put a lot of strain on your tyres, and if there’s already damage, a blowout could occur.
What are some tyre issues to look out for? You should avoid a long journey if you notice any of the following problems:
- Bulges or gashes in your tyres
- Foreign objects embedded in your tyres such as nails or glass
- A very thin tyre tread (you can use the 20p test to check whether the tread has worn below the legal tread depth)
A long journey on underinflated tyres is also not recommended. This can cause you to use more fuel and can also increase the risk of a blowout. You can get tyres pumped up at any local petrol station or buy yourself a pump and gauge (the latter could save you money over time).
Ignoring tyre damage
Some of us know that our tyres are damaged, but continue driving on them anyway. This could be because of the cost or inconvenience of having to get tyres replaced.
However, ignoring tyre damage is clearly not worth the risk – if your tyre bursts, it will result in more costly damage and could even lead to a dangerous accident. So always get your tyres fixed the moment you notice a problem!
Not rotating tyres
If you’ve got a front-wheel drive vehicle, you’ll likely find that the front tyres wear more quickly than the rear tyres. Rotating your tyres every 5,000 miles can be a useful trick for more evenly distributing the wear. This can result in your tyres lasting longer before needing to be replaced.
Don’t feel comfortable rotating your tyres yourself? You may be able to ask a mechanic to do it for you when you get a service. Given that the wheels are removed during a service, you may not even be charged extra for this.
Buying tyres from a local fitter
When most people need new tyres, they go straight to their local tyre fitter. While they’re typically the best person to choose to fit your new tyres, you don’t have to buy tyres directly from them. In fact, buying tyres online and then bringing them to the fitter to put on will save you money.
This is because tyre fitting services make a markup on any tyres they order. When you shop online, you can shop around for prices and you don’t have to pay for any extra fee that a fitter may charge for sourcing the tyre.
Choosing the wrong type of tyres for your needs
As this guide on how to really save money on tyres demonstrates, you can save even more money on new tyres by shopping around for the right tyres for your needs. Some specialist tyres can be cheaper than many people realise and may be designed to wear out more slowly – providing they’re matched to your vehicle and style of driving.
Buying the wrong type of tyres can often result in paying hundreds of pounds more than is necessary. For example, if you regularly drive over rough terrain, not choosing the right tyres could result in them wearing out much more quickly. You can also end up spending more money by buying tyres from premium brands that aren’t suited to your vehicle.
Spend time doing your tyre research; you could reduce damage sustained over time and save a lot of money.
Ruining tyres through careless driving
It’s worth noting that tyres can often be ruined through bad driving habits. This includes:
- Parking on the kerb (mounting the kerb at a lowered point may reduce damage)
- Taking corners too fast and clipping kerbs
- Driving over speed bumps too fast
- Not swerving around potholes
- Late braking
- Doing handbrake turns and donuts!
By driving more carefully, you can extend the life of your tyres. Think about where and how you are driving. Unless you have no choice but to park on a curb or go over a pothole, don’t do it.