The tyres on vehicles should be checked by an experienced auto technician at regular intervals. If the tyres are not in perfect condition, vehicles may meet accidents and subsequent problems. Hence, regular inspection of the tyres can ensure better safety for the drivers and passengers of those cars. Moreover, the performance of cars can be improved a lot by this inspection of tyres. The patterns on the tyre bodies are checked for evenness. As rubber tyres are made of definite patterns, signs of wear and tear can be easily detected there. Expert technicians complete the entire tyre inspection process very quickly, following a few definite steps.
Search for visible damages in tyres:
First of all, a technician checks for any signs of damage to the tyre surface, which can be seen with the naked eye. He tries to detect any cracks or cut marks on the tyre body. The bulging outer surface of the tyre can identify internal damage. Sometimes iron nails, tiny screws, or small glass pieces lying on the road can puncture the tyres. Little pieces of gravel may also get embedded in the soft tyre body, so the technician checks if any such object is still stuck on the external surfaces of the tyres, which should be removed carefully before checking the degree of damage caused by it. This damage calls for immediate repair or even replacement of that tyre.
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Checking air pressure within tyres:
A rubber tyre is tightly filled with air. The air pressure should be intact within the tyre body. The technician uses a gauge to check the air pressure in all tyres. He compares the present air pressure of a tyre with the pressure mentioned in the manual provided by the vehicle manufacturer. The air pressure of tyres recommended by manufacturers is mentioned in pounds per square inch (PSI), which is measured on a cold tyre when it is not moving. However, modern cars are equipped with a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), which notifies the tyre pressure on the dashboard of the car. If a tyre is overinflated or underinflated, it is difficult to drive the car due to the unevenness of the tyre’s surface. Moreover, fuel efficiency also decreases due to irregular air pressure in the tyres, and overinflated tyres can even blow out and cause accidents. Technicians prefer to check the air pressure of the tyres after a car has been parked for more than three hours. Commercial vehicles should get their tyres checked every month, as air pressure decreases due to overwork on wheels.
Measuring the tread depth of tyres:
The patterned rubber surface of a tyre that touches the road is termed tread. The distance from the tread to the groove base is called tread depth, which should be optimum for the safety of tyres. Auto technicians use a tread depth gauge to measure the tread depth of tyres. A penny test is also applied to check the tread depth in tyres. This is an easy process and is done by pushing a penny headlong into the tread of the tyre surface. If the tread depth is found to be too less, the technician suggests replacement of the tyre to avoid an accident. Proper tread depth for tires is essential if the road is wet because of rain or snowfall. The tread depth of a tyre varies according to the size of the wheels; though the minimum tread depth should be 2/32 of an inch for most cars. Tyres for heavy vehicles, like buses or trucks, have a minimum tread depth of 4/32 of an inch. Tread depth is measured at various points of a tyre, and all tyres of a vehicle should be checked to increase their longevity.
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Check the unevenness of tyre surface:
If the wheels of a car are not properly aligned, the tyres may develop uneven surfaces. So, the technician can detect unaligned wheels or problems with the suspension system by noticing signs of too much wear and tear on the tyres. The friction caused between the tyre body and the road surface increases a lot due to misaligned wheels. When the nuts of the wheels are loosely fitted, the tyres can be greatly damaged while moving. This can be prevented by fastening all the nuts securely before taking the vehicle out on the road. In these cases, the technician will recommend the necessary repair of the car to avoid further damage to the tyres. The cost of tyre replacement can be saved by addressing the issues of faulty suspension systems, misaligned wheels, and other problems with the vehicle.
Determine the age of the tyre:
Every tyre has some dots on its surface, the number of which denotes the age of that tyre. If a tyre is too old, the technician may suggest replacement of the tyre even if there is no serious problem noted with it. The condition of the rubber is also checked minutely to see if the tyre needs replacement. Owners of commercial vehicles should maintain a record of the age and mileage of their tyres to have an idea of the longevity of those tyres. As these vehicles run more frequently, wear and tear reduces the lifespan of their tyres. Knowledge regarding mileage can help technicians in detecting the exact condition of tyres. Now, tyre management software is available that can keep a record of every tyre and its maintenance, easing the job of vehicle owners.
Wrapping Up
Though some vehicle owners may think that regular inspection of tyres is quite costly, this practice can save them a lot of money. Tyres do not need replacement before their expected end of lifespan if properly maintained and regularly checked by professionals. Tyre inspection does not mean only having a look at the entire tyre body. Several tools are now used by technicians to check the health of a tyre. Modern technology also aids in tyre inspection, by providing software tools to do the job more easily. Therefore, professional tyre inspection at regular intervals can save the car from accidents and heavy damage. The expertise of professional auto technicians can save tyres from early replacement.