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Saturday, December 13, 2008

Tyre care and maintenance - Basic tips

Step 1 - Keep your wheels balanced
Balancing your wheels is crucial to making sure they spin correctly. Have your local tyre centre balance the wheels by attaching small weights to the wheel rim. These weights will equalize any distortion in the construction of your wheels or their rims. If you notice a vibration through the steering wheel, you may want to rebalance your wheels. At least bring your car to the tyre centre to see if that's the way to go.
Good tyre care
With all the time your loved ones spend in a car, you need your tyres to be in tip-top shape. And proper tyre care is your ticket to ride - safely. In these three easy steps, The Expert tells you how to keep your tyre care simple and effective.

Step 2 - Make sure your wheels are properly aligned

Alignment keeps your tyres in even contact with the road surface. It's crucial to your car's tyre life and relatively cheap to have carried out. Whenever the tread is wearing unevenly or you're driving unevenly - no matter how straight you are going - it may be a sign to have the alignment checked out. Check for signs of uneven tyre wear and if you bump into a kerb have the alignment checked.
Step 3 - Take the time to rotate those tyres
Most tyre companies will tell you to rotate all four tyres approximately every 5000 miles. For the less fastidious, the Expert recommends that you do so at least every 10,000 miles, especially for front-wheel drive vehicles. Also, keep in mind that there are different types of tyre rotation possible. Your owner's manual should recommend the preferred method for your vehicle, which you can then share with your mechanic. In addition to the above, the simplest way to improve your car's steering, handling and braking is to ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures. Make sure that you increase tyre pressure, as recommended by your manufacturer, when you load up your vehicle.

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