Rules to memorize about tires

Tires are the most important detail in a car because they play a role of bearing, connecting the vehicle to the road surface, being the “output” of all the operating technologies that the vehicle has, as well as playing a big role in bringing safety. when moving. However important, many technical experts in genuine garages as well as outside workshops believe that drivers in Vietnam do not have the right awareness of this part.

Here are the principles to remember when using tires, according to technical experts.

Correct tire pressure

When the vehicle is on the road, the tire is continuously in a state of local expansion according to the rotation speed and the road surface. Tires that are too inflated or too low both make driving unsafe.

Under-inflated tires (lack of pressure) lead to low stiffness, so the deformation process is fast and strong, accelerating the destruction of the tire surface, or reducing the function of the tire, unsafe. Over a long period of time, tires will wear out, thin and can explode when inflated again.

In addition, under-inflated tires increase drag because the tire surface is in more contact, creating great friction, leading to more engine activity and more fuel consumption.

In contrast, overinflated (over-inflated) tires will increase the elasticity between the tire and the road surface, the tire tends to “bounce” on the road, thus reducing traction, increasing shock. In addition, the friction causes the tire and the air mass inside to heat up, the greater the pressure exerted on the tire wall, causing the tire to explode, especially with degraded tires.

For these reasons, it’s important to use the correct tire pressure for your vehicle. The easiest way to know how much tire pressure is in the car is to look at sticker on the side of the driver’s door, or in the user manual. Depending on the type of tire, each tire manufacturer has different prescribed pressure levels.

Check and maintain tires on schedule

Experts recommend that you check the tire surface before every trip. Tire surface inspection is quick, simple and can be done on your own. Tire surface inspection not only saves money but, more importantly, ensures safety every step of the way.

Tires can be divided into two areas, the tread and the sides of the tire. The tread has many grooves and is the contact area with the road surface, while the sidewalls are the sides of the tire. Tire surface inspection should start from the sides, for cracks, blisters or cuts, one of the risks of a tire burst.

The tire surface is much thicker than the side of the tire, so the car usually blows out the tire at the side, not on the side of the tire. Drivers must not subjectively only look at the tire surface without looking at the side of the tire.

The tread is the place in contact with the road surface when the vehicle is rolling. If used regularly every year, equivalent to about 12,000-20,000 km, the tread will wear out before the synthetic rubber layer of the tire is degraded. The rate of wear increases if the tire pressure is not maintained according to the manufacturer’s standards. Tires wear a lot in the middle if the pressure is too high, people with low tires will wear out the edges.

The tread (slot between the treads) usually has a minimum standard height of about 1.6 mm. So if the groove is shallower, the tire needs to be replaced.

During the visual inspection process, foreign objects such as nails, stones, etc. can also be detected that can cause punctures. In addition, the gravel particles on the tread also increase the noise level.

Besides visual inspection, tire rotation and tire change according to the manufacturer’s recommendations helps prolong tire life and increase safety. Depending on the manufacturer, rotate the tires every 10,000 km and change the tires every 60,000-100,000 km.

How to deal with a tire blowout

The first thing to do when a tire suddenly explodes on the road is to stay calm, hold on to the steering wheel and do not slam on the brake suddenly. You can even add a little gas to keep the car running straight. Normally, blowing out the front tire is easier to lose control than blowing the rear tire, because it is related to the steering mechanism.

Hold the steering wheel with both hands, look straight ahead and on both sides of the rearview mirror, slowly turn the car to the curb. After stabilizing, reduce the speed, release the accelerator pedal for the car to follow inertia. At this time, the foot brake lightly brake for the car to slow down, bring the car to the right side.

Pay attention, never stop on the left side of the road, especially on the highway because that is a very fast lane. When the vehicle comes to a complete stop, turn on the hazard warning lights, get off the vehicle to check the vehicle’s condition, and place a warning object to warn other vehicles. Finally, change the spare tire yourself or call an ambulance if necessary.

Luong Dung