Checking the condition of your tires regularly will help you avoid the hassle of stopping on the road due to a flat tire. In addition, such checks provide valuable information about possible problems with the steering and suspension before serious damage appears in them.
The tires are equipped with built-in tread wear indicator strips, which are exposed when the tread depth drops to 1.6 mm, after which the tires are considered worn. This value represents the minimum allowable tread depth; In most cases, it is recommended to replace tires with a tread depth of 2 mm or less. Tread depth can also be determined using a simple and inexpensive device known as a tread depth gauge.
Use a tread depth gauge to determine tire wear - these are available from auto accessory stores and service stations and are very inexpensive.
Pay attention to any unusual wear on the treads. Tread defects such as caverns, bulges, flattening and more severe wear on one side indicate misalignment of the front wheels and/or wheel balance. If any of the listed defects are detected, you should contact the tire shop for correction.
Carefully check the tire for cuts, punctures, and stuck nails or buttons. Sometimes, after piercing the tire with a nail, it keeps the pressure for some time or descends very slowly. If there is a suspicion that such «slow puncture» first check the tightness of the inflation valve nipple. Then inspect the tread for the presence of stuck foreign objects in it or previously sealed punctures that have begun to let air through again. If there is a suspicion that there is a puncture, you can verify its presence by wetting the suspected area with soapy water. If there is a leak, the solution will begin to bubble. If the puncture is not too big, the tire can usually be repaired at any tire shop.
If there is a suspicion that there is «slow puncture», check the tightness of the nipple first.
If the nipple is tight, jack up the car and spray the soapy solution on the tread while slowly turning the wheel - small bubbles will appear at the puncture site.
Carefully inspect the inner sidewalls of the tires for signs of brake fluid leakage. If any, check the brake system immediately.
Maintaining the correct tire pressure increases tire life, helps save fuel and improves overall ride quality. A pressure gauge is required to check the pressure.
Note. Always keep an accurate pressure gauge in your glove box. The pressure gauges built into the air hose nozzles at service stations are often inaccurate.
Always check the pressure on cold tires (i.e. before driving). If you check the pressure on warm or hot tires, this will lead to an overestimation of the pressure gauge due to the thermal expansion of the tires. In this case, you should never release pressure, because after the tire cools down, it will be below normal.
Unscrew the protective cap from the inflation valve protruding from the wheel disk or from the hub cap, then firmly press the pressure gauge nozzle onto the valve. Read the readings of the device and compare them with those recommended in Specifications. Remember to replace the protective cap to prevent dirt and moisture from entering the nipple mechanism. Check the pressure in all four tires and, if necessary, inflate them to the recommended pressure.
To extend the life of your tires, check your tire pressure at least once a week with an accurate pressure gauge (don't forget the spare tire!).
Do not forget to maintain the required pressure in the spare wheel.
Examples of typical tire tread wear
Lateral wear
Insufficient pressure (wear on both sides)
Insufficient tire pressure causes the tire to overheat while driving due to excessive deflection, resulting in the tread not pressing sufficiently against the road surface. This results in loss of traction and excessive tread wear, not to mention the risk of tire failure due to overheating.
Check and adjust pressure.
Wrong camber (wear on one side)
Repair or replace suspension parts.
Too sharp turns
Reduce your speed!
Central wear
Overpressure
Excessive tire pressure leads to accelerated wear of the central part of the tread, reduced traction, harder driving and an increased risk of fatal damage to the tire. Check and adjust pressure. If you had to inflate tires for transporting heavy loads to the specified for this purpose in Specifications pressure values, do not forget to bleed it afterwards when returning to normal operation.
Uneven wear
The front tires may wear unevenly as a result of misalignment of the wheel alignment. Tire angles can be checked and adjusted for a modest fee at most tire shops.
Incorrect camber or runout
Repair or replace suspension parts.
suspension defect
Repair or replace suspension parts.
Wheels out of balance
Perform wheel balancing.
Front wheel alignment incorrectly set
Adjust the angles of the front wheels.
Note. The frayed edges of the tread pattern, which is a sign of wear, is best detected by touch.