Tyre Care Guide: Maximize Safety and Longevity
Proper tyre care is essential for vehicle safety, performance, and cost-efficiency. This guide is tailored to New Zealand’s conditions, where the main seasonal changes are between hot summers and cold, rainy winters, with no snow in winter.
1. Maintain Correct Tyre Pressure
Why it’s important:
Correct tyre pressure ensures even wear, optimal grip, and fuel efficiency. Incorrect pressure can lead to underinflation (causing overheating) or overinflation (reducing traction).
Recommended pressure ranges:
- Passenger vehicles: 32-36 PSI
- SUVs: 35-40 PSI
- Light trucks/commercial vehicles: 50-60 PSI
Always refer to your vehicle’s manual or the tyre placard (usually found on the driver-side door) for specific recommendations.
2. Inspect Tyres for Damage and Wear
What to look for:
- Tread wear: Ensure even tread across all tyres. Uneven wear may indicate alignment or pressure issues.
- Sidewall damage: Look for cuts, bulges, or cracks. Sidewall damage compromises the structural integrity and can lead to blowouts.
- Perishing/cracking: Check for small cracks around the outer rubber caused by age or UV exposure. Driving on cracked tyres can lead to tyre failure.
Dangers of mismatched tyres:
Avoid fitting one new tyre with older tyres on the same axle. This can cause uneven traction, instability, and increased wear.
3. Understand Tyre Wear and Legal Requirements
In New Zealand, the minimum legal tread depth is 1.5mm, measured across the central 75% of the tyre’s tread width. Regularly check tread depth using:
- Tread depth gauge: For precise measurement.
- Wear indicators: Small raised bars in the grooves of tyres that indicate the minimum legal depth.
Replace tyres before reaching the legal limit for optimal safety, especially in wet conditions.
4. Rotate Tyres Regularly
Rotating tyres ensures even wear across all tyres, extending their lifespan. Rotate every 8,000–10,000 km or at each service.
Rotation patterns:
- Directional tyres: These have a V-shaped tread and must stay on the same side. Rotate front-to-back only.
- Symmetrical tyres: With identical tread patterns across the tyre, rotate using a cross-pattern (e.g., rear tyres to the front and swapped sides).
- Asymmetrical tyres: These have inner and outer tread designs and must stay on the same side. Rotate front-to-back only.
5. Balance and Align Tyres
Imbalanced tyres cause vibrations, uneven wear, and reduce comfort.
Misaligned wheels can lead to:
- Wear on one side of the tyre.
- Poor handling and increased fuel consumption.
Check balance and alignment every 10,000 km or if you notice irregular wear or the vehicle pulling to one side.
6. Tyre Load and Speed Ratings
Every tyre is rated for load capacity and speed:
-
Load rating:
- Single load rating (e.g., 98V): Supports a specific weight per tyre (e.g., 750 kg for a 98 rating).
- Dual load rating (e.g., 122/119S): 122 supports 1,500 kg for single use, and 119 supports 1,360 kg for dual use (e.g., dual rear axles).
-
Speed rating: Indicates maximum safe speed:
- S: 180 km/h
-
V: 240 km/h
Always match or exceed the vehicle manufacturer's recommended ratings.
7. Types of Tyres
Choose tyres that suit your vehicle and driving conditions:
- Passenger Car Tyres: Designed for everyday use with a balance of comfort and durability.
- Commercial/Light Truck Tyres: Built for heavier loads and rugged use.
- High-Performance Tyres: For enhanced grip and handling at higher speeds.
- Summer Tyres: Optimized for hot, dry conditions, offering excellent traction.
- All Terrain Tyres: Versatile for on-road and off-road use.
- Mud Terrain Tyres: Aggressive tread for extreme off-road conditions.
- Highway Terrain Tyres: Comfortable and quiet for predominantly on-road use.
- Runflat Tyres: Allow limited driving even after a puncture.
- EV Tyres: Engineered for electric vehicles, offering quiet operation and low rolling resistance.
8. Spare Tyres
Different vehicles come with various spare tyre options:
- Space-saver emergency tyres: Compact and lightweight but limited to short distances and lower speeds.
- Full-size spare: Matches your regular tyres, ideal for long-term use.
- Tyre repair kits/pumps: Common in newer vehicles, used with runflat tyres or to temporarily fix punctures.
Important: Some vehicles have limited space for anything larger than a space-saver spare.
9. Seasonal Considerations for New Zealand
With no snow in winter, the focus is on rain and cooler conditions:
- Ensure good tread depth for wet traction during winter.
- Use all-season or summer tyres for optimal performance in summer.
- Regularly check tyre pressure, as colder temperatures reduce tyre pressure.
10. Avoid Overloading and Aggressive Driving
Overloading tyres beyond their rating causes overheating and premature wear.
Aggressive driving, like hard braking or sharp turns, increases wear and risk of tyre damage.
Conclusion
Proper tyre care improves safety, reduces costs, and ensures a comfortable driving experience. Regular checks, timely rotations, and choosing the right tyres for your vehicle and conditions will keep you safe on New Zealand’s roads. For expert advice or tyre services, visit Tyre Dispatch or contact our team today!
