By T.K. Malhotra (President)
Many accidents are caused by worn - out tyres. It is, therefore, very essential that due attention be given towards maintenance of tyres. Some important hints about maintenance of tyres are given as under to enable all the automobile users to take timely action to avoid sudden blow out and punctures causing accident:
UNEVEN WEAR AND TEAR: Each tyre should be rotated at least once every 3 months to eliminate any uneven wear and tear to nay particular tyre. It may show up as greater wear on one side of the tyre, in the centre or on both sides of the tyre tread. The main reason for this could be the unbalancing or non-alignment of the wheels. Driving with underflated or over inflated tyres shortens the life of the tyres considerably.The remedy lies in getting the alignment and wheel balancing done, ensuring that the tyre pressures are maintained. Incidentally, manufacturers do suggest the tyre pressures for the tyres used in their models.
SAFE -TREAD WHILE DRIVING: A tyre must retain at least1/8th inch of the tread for safe driving. Thereafter, retreading or replacement of the tyre becomes essential. Basically, the tyre tread provide the necessary grip on the road while applying brakes and turning. In case of a worn out tread, this grip is seriously affected and there is no danger of the car skidding and not coming to halt within the safe distance after application of brakes. The problem becomes more serious when the road surface is wet or slippery due to any reason.
INFLATION OF THE TYRES: For properly retreaded tyre, a specified inflation pressure needs to be maintained.
However, when the tread is worn out, it is advisable to reduce the tyre pressure by 5 to 7 peer cent. so as to provide better grip as more tyre surface will come in contact with the road, to provide better grip and resultant safety.
ROTATION OF TYRES: The importance of rotation of tyres lies in the fact that the wear and tear of the tyres is evenly distributed. There is, otherwise, a danger of a particular tyre losing its tread much earlier before the other tyres. Tyres should be rotated regularly, from 6000 to 8000 kms. The pattern for rotating is by the Cross Change Rule. The right hand front tyre is shifted to the left-hand rear and the left-hand front tyre is shifted to the right hand rear.
This rule is generally adopted for radial tyres. In case of nylon rubber tyres, the rule is slightly modified. The front left-hand tyre is placed in reserve and the reserve tyre is fitted at left-hand rear. The left-hand tyre rear goes to right hand front and the right hand rear goes to left-hand front. So the basic rule is to cross the rear tyres with the front tyres diagonally.
REPLACEMENT OF TYRES: While replacing tyres, it is desirable to replace two tyres simultaneously. New tyres should be fitted on the rear wheels. The reason is to ensure the maximum tread depth on the rear to avoid rear wheel skids as the new tyres would provide better road grip.
Back |
