Tyre Safety Maintenance Tips
Tread Depth Indicator Check
The tread grooves are designed to disperse surface water from underneath your tyre, helping to maintain control. The more tread depth you have remaining on your tyres the more water they can disperse, reducing the risk of aquaplaning.
The minimum amount of tread required for a car to be roadworthy is 1.6 mm, it's wise to replace tyres at 2 mm, as wet-weather grip is diminished when there is only a small amount of tread.
Tyre Pressure Check
Correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your vehicle. It protects your tyres from premature wear and will even save fuel.
All tyres slowly deflate over a period of time, hence it is important to:
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Do a monthly check and before any long journey
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Check pressure and inflate when the tyres are cold
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Don't forget to also inflate your spare tyre
Check for Irregular Wear
Check regularly for any signs of irregular wear
This is when one section of the tyre is more worn than the rest and occurs when:
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Tyres are not uniformly inflated.
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Tyres are not balanced.
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Wheels are out of alignment.
Tyres are often moved from one position on the car to another to ensure even wear and tear. Front tyres carry more of the car’s weight and tend to wear out at about twice the rate of rear tyres, so rotating the tyres can extend their life.
Balancing helps prevent premature wear of your tyres and eliminates vibration. It also protects the suspension, steering system and bearings of your vehicle.
Rotate & Balance Every 8-10k KM
Wheel Alignment
It's difficult to tell if your wheels and axles are correctly aligned while driving. Misaligned wheels cause tyres to wear more quickly and irregularly, and prevents the vehicle from running or braking in a straight line. The suspension and steering components will also be subjected to extra stress.
If your tyre has come into contact with a solid object, such as a kerb or pothole, or you have noticed uneven wear on your tyres, do go for a check.
Agent & Parellel Import Tyres
*Good Read Up
Article extract from:
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=52046
This does not just happen in Austualia, many other country experienced it. We too.
Grey imports’ (Parallel Import) may look the same as tyres designed for Australia, but there can be crucial differences.
Just in case buying new tyres isn’t enough of a minefield, there’s also the issue of parallel imports, or ‘grey’ imports.
Grey imports are tyres being sold in Australia but imported here not through an official importer.
Eg. Our market brand Bridgestone, Bridgestone tyres are import in by Bridgestone Singapore but not all in the market are import in by them. Some/many are import in by others/anyone who can/want to import in.
Even though the tyres may look exactly the same as those imported by the brand’s official importer, there can be crucial differences.
For example, some tyres are designed for use in cold climates, so have a softer rubber compound designed to heat up quicker. When used in hotter climates – like most parts of Australia – the tyres can wear out very quickly, cancelling any cost advantages at the time of purchase.
Yet the tyres are almost identical, right down to the markings on the side, making it difficult to spot a grey import from one imported through the official importer.
It’s a matter of buyer beware when it comes grey import tyres, says automotive technician Jordan Petersen.
“The issues are that you won’t have any warranty on the tyre,” he says. “It could also be a slightly different product to what’s available in Australia, and so you won’t be able to match your tyres.”
Grey import tyres can also be a few years old by the time they land in Australia, which immediately reduces their usefulness in terms of longevity.
"This does not happen here, they are actually pretty new due to Europe dumping in for fast cash"
So how do you spot a grey market tyre? If you’re buying online – through eBay, for example - it pays to ask the seller where the tyre came from. Better still, go and look at the tyres yourself and even seek an expert opinion.
If you’re buying from a smaller retailer (reputable retailers tend not to carry grey market tyres) and the tyre is much cheaper than it should be, there’s a chance that what you’re looking at is a grey market tyre.
In Singapore, it doesn't matter small or big retailer. Everyone and anyone can sell/buy them.
Want to view sample? We have it! Feel free to drop by our workshop.
Tyre DOM - the Newer the Better?
Yes and No? Having a new Date of Manufacturing (DOM) is good, but too new is not a good thing either.
Watch the video below to know why.
Video from Taiwan in mandarin.
Used Tyre Worth buying? Depends...
If you are temporary using for few days or weeks, buying USED tyre (useable condition) is fine BUT not those that had been re-grooved. Unless "regroovable" label is written on the tyres. Buying used tyres comes with no warranty as no one knows exactly what happen to the tyres, what had it been through, did it hit onto something hard before or recently, etc. Hence, for your own safety, we strongly advise to change to an agent set of new tyres instead. What our workshop can do to minimize the risk when selling used tyres is to check for any visible damage before selling to you, make sure it is in useable condition. After fitment, check for any air leakage.
Watch the video below, to learn how to identify a re-grooved tyre and know how dangerous a re-grooved tyre can be!
Tyres Rims Wheels Battery