Car Repair Help

Most people, when they buy new tyres, ask: “What mileage will I get from these tyres?” What they should be asking is: “How do I get the best mileage from these tyres?”

To extend its life, a tyre must run straight down the road, perfectly balanced, with an inflation pressure exactly right to carry the load on board and cope with the speed being traveled at.

It’s of paramount importance that tyres are fitted to true-running rims, and as a weekend of four-wheel driving can often result in a buckled or damaged wheel.

Even ‘run-outs’ of only a millimeter or so in the wheel-rims are magnified significantly by the time this movement reaches the larger diameter of the tyre tread on the road.

This lateral and radial wander unbalances the tyre, induces a higher rate of wear, and in extreme cases can completely wipe off the tread blocks to a feathered edge.

Mis-alignment of a vehicle’s suspension is another major contributor to poor mileage on both 4WDs and regular passenger cars.

In recent years the tyre industry has adopted the policy of ‘total alignment’, where a vehicle is aligned on both front and rear axles to ensure correct performance.

If the vehicle’s alignment is out, tyres bear the brunt of this in terms of wear and ultimate durability, areas already stressed by the cornering and acceleration capabilities of today’s cars and 4WDs.

Never accept that once tyres are fitted and balanced, there’s no need to re-balance.

In fact, as tyres wear their balance is affected, so if you’re really trying to maximise durability it’s a good idea to have the wheel/tyre assembly re-balanced about every 5000 km or so.

Regardless of a vehicle’s age or condition, tyre rotation – swapping tyres from axle to axle and side to side – will evenly distribute the type of wear each position induces.

In general terms, a tyre that steers will wear at the shoulders – while a tyre that drives will wear more evenly across the tread face but at a greater rate – especially when towing.

Inflation pressure is the other area that will have a significant effect on tyre wear. Low inflation pressures will result in more tread squirm on the road surface and therefore reduced mileage.

This situation is aggravated further if heavy loads are carried or continuous high speeds are maintained, without compensation to the inflation pressure being used.

Pressures detailed on the vehicle’s tyre placard should be maintained and increases suggested for high loads and high speeds adhered to.

In short, to maximize tyre life what you need to do is select the right tyre for you 4WD, mount it on a ‘true’ rim, make sure the vehicle is correctly aligned, and keep the correct inflation pressures.