In places like Faringdon, with fast access to much bigger settlements line Oxford and Swindon, you can often rely on the expertise of local mechanics or friends when it comes to tyre care. If you don't know much about car maintenance, then asking for an opinion from someone you know about them – even if it is well-intentioned – could result in misleading advice. What do tyre experts say about tyre care that you might not realise from a quick inspection? Read on to find out.
1. Check for Uneven Tread Wear
Regularly checking your tyres for tread depth is essential, no matter where you live. Balding tyres are illegal and easy to detect from a tyre gauge. That said, tyre experts will warn you that uneven wear can be more revealing. If your tyres are suffering from radial wear in a certain section of the tread, it could mean your tracking is out of alignment. There again, such premature wear could also indicate that you have over-inflated your tyres so one section is taking more of the load than it should without a more even distribution. Unusual patterns of tread wear, also known as cupping, could indicate a problem with your car's suspension, something you will want to get seen to in order to improve the ride of your vehicle, not just its tyres.
2. Feel for Pronounced Road Vibrations
When you drive on roads like the A420 you know well, if you detect increased vibrations from the tarmac, then it could be down to a number of issues. When such road vibrations are particularly pronounced as you corner, it could well be that the tyres are out of alignment and need to be checked. This could be the tracking or, in some cases, uneven wear on the left and right sides of the car.
3. Look for Blistering Sidewalls
The rubber compounds that modern tyres are made from are only designed to withstand the typical lifespan of the product. Typically, this means that they need to be able to outlast the tread wear rate for the given model. Nevertheless, overexposure to UV light can degrade these compounds prematurely. If you park your car the same way and two of its wheels face south so they get more exposure to the sun's rays, then you could find their sidewalls blister up. You need to have tyres with these bulge-like shapes exchanged without delay because they could blow at any time. Have them exchanged immediately, even if you are away from home and nowhere near Faringdon. For example, you can choose your new tyres in Hammersmith - DAT Tyres is a verified choice. Their prices are locally adjusted and they offer professional branch fitting at the local branch. Wherever you are, have tyres with bulges, get them removed by a professional – it's not the sort of job you should try yourself since bulging tyres are dangerous.
4. Valve Stem Corrosion
Sometimes, the problems related to tyres come down to the valve stems not operating properly. If you notice that you have to keep pumping your car's tyres up more frequently than you once did, it could be a slow puncture or it could be that the valve stem doesn't sit correctly due to rust. Check for such corrosion and clean the area carefully to see whether the issue of premature deflation continues.
5. Listen for Thumping Noises
When you are driving, thumping noises should never be ignored. These typically originate from tyres that are not fitted correctly or which require adjustments to be made to them. Sometimes the thumping will also be accompanied by a humming noise. Typically, the latter will only be noticeable at certain speeds but, either way, you should ensure your tyres are looked at to confirm there isn't a more serious problem with them.
