Level 2 - Key Safety Checks Part 2

Having explored the "Key Safety Checks Part 1" module in level 1 you will be familiar the basic changes that you yourself are able to make to your tyre to ensure they work at their optimum. In this section you will discover some of the more major tyre adjustments, so that next time you’re in the dealer or mechanic you are able to verify that they have done their “checks”.

It’s easy to forget that tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. That is why it’s extremely important to preserve the quality and performance of your tyres to ensure both your safety and your mobility.

A BIG JOB FOR A SMALL AREA

The part of your tyre that’s actually in contact with the road is only about the size of your hand. Your safety, comfort and fuel economy depends on that very small area.

It’s important because your tyres:

• Are the only link between your vehicle and the road
• Carry the entire weight of your car, a load of up to 50 times their own weight
• Respond to driving inputs such as steering, acceleration and braking from the car to the road surface
• Absorb every obstacle on the road

Suspension alignment

A good time to get your suspension alignment checked is at a service.

We would recommend if it hasn’t been checked recently, having it checked when you change tyres is a good investment, especially if your worn tyres have irregular wear.

If the suspension alignment (tracking) on your vehicle is incorrect, then road holding may be affected and your safety could be at risk.

It's not always possible to feel if your suspension alignment 'is out'. Normal wear and tear of suspension components can also see the alignment change over time.

You may have hit a kerb or pothole, which could have put your suspension out of alignment without you noticing. It's a good idea to have a tyre specialist periodically check if any tracking adjustments are necessary.

Wheel Balancing

If tyres are being moved around the vehicle, check the balance at the same time. Tyre rotation is usually done every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. (Where tyres are the same size on each axle). Tyre rotation can help even out wear between axles, especially on 4x4 vehicles. However, for safety, we would recommend keeping your newest tyres on the rear axle, which we will cover in a later module. There is a great deal of confusion between tracking and balancing. Tracking concerns adjusting the angles of the wheels, while balancing allows the tyres to spin without vibrating. Balancing prevents premature wear of the tyre, and also protects the vehicle's suspension, steering systems and bearings. This contributes significantly to passenger comfort.

Valves

It’s essential for safety reasons to replace tyre valves every time the tyres are changed. The valve plays a very important part in keeping your tyre airtight. It is subjected to high pressure and gradually deteriorates due to the forces put on it from the rotation of the wheel. These forces are quite dramatic. At 62mph the valve has a force of 1.7 kg pulling on it. It's essential to have the valve replaced each time a tyre is changed. This will contribute to the life expectancy and safety of your tyres.

It could prove a false economy to compromise the life of your tyres, or even your personal safety, for the sake of the price of a new valve. Be sure to check carefully with your tyre dealer that they've replaced the valves when they change your tyres.

What’s next?

Explore the next section to read more about safety on the roads and the impact tyres can have on the way your car performs in certain road conditions plus how your tyre pressures can affect your safety