15 Handy Tyre Safety Tips and Useful Information
On my visit recently to Supa Quick Centurion Lifestyle, I gained quite a bit of knowledge on tyres and the safety of them.
I am not a tyre expert nor do I claim to have the best knowledge on tyre safety but on my recent visit to Supa Quick Centurion Lifestyle, I consulted with the experts and have come up with these 15 safety tips and useful information. For your benefit, a video with a few more tips is included as well. If you have any tips of your own, please feel free to add them in the comments section below.
Check out my article on my experience at Supa Quick Centurion Lifestyle HERE
- How often should I check my tyre pressure?
As often as possible, the correct pressure is very important for the health of your tyre.
While at a filling station, if the attendant wants to check your pressure, let them check it, it could save your life.
- Do I require a certain amount of pressure in my tyre?
Each tyre is different but your vehicle manual (or sometimes in the petrol cap) will indicate the tyre pressure needed for the different loads you have, as the pressure will need to increase if you are carrying a heavier load.
- Is there a specific time of day to put pressure in my tyres?
Not really, it doesn’t matter what time of day you check your tyre pressure, what is most important is to check it as regularly as possible.
- What is a cold tyre?
A cold tyre is when the temperature outside the tyre is the same as the temperature inside the tyre, the tyre is not hotter than it should be.
For example you are in Durban and it is 30 Degrees Celsius outside and the tyre inside is also 30 Degrees Celsius
- When I have a puncture in my tyre what do I do?
The nearest point of contact is a service station where they can assist you with a string plug, which is a temporary measure. As soon as you are able to get on the road again try and visit your closest tyre fitment centre so they can do a proper assessment of your tyre and if it is repairable a mushroom plug will be used which is a permanent solution, as it becomes one with the tyre once fitted.
- How much is a mushroom plug?
A mushroom plug is about R150
- What causes a bubble on my tyre and what do I do if I see a bubble on my tyre?
A bubble on your tyre is usually caused by hitting a curb, a pothole, or any other road hazard.
The only thing to do when you see a bubble on your tyre is to replace the tyre at your nearest fitment centre as it cannot be repaired.
Sometimes bubbles form on the inside of your tyre so it is advisable to every now and again just take a peek to see that everything is fine with your tyres inside and outside.
The most dangerous bubbles on a tyre is the one on a front tyre and these tyres should be replaced immediately because should it burst it could be fatal.
- If I have a bubble on my tyre and the tyre is low on pressure, can I inflate the tyre?
Yes you can, as long as you do not over inflate it, but it is highly advisable to visit your nearest fitment centre as soon as you can to replace the tyre.
- Do insurance companies cover the replacement of a tyre with a bubble on it?
Most general covers don’t but there are specific individual insurance or special bolt-on and additional covers that do cover it.
Some tyre brands like Bridgestone and Firestone do offer a tyre damage guarantee which covers part of the cost of replacing an ir-repairable damage to your tyre.
- How does the tyre guarantee from Bridgestone and Firestone work?
When you buy a Firestone tyre 15inch and above, built-in (you don’t have to pay anything extra) is a tyre damage guarantee. The same tyre damage guarantee applies to Bridgetsone tyres that are 17inches and above, excluding Run Flats. Anytime you get any damage to your tyre that cannot be repaired, whether it is a side wall cut, or even a blister on the tyre by purchasing one of the tyres that have the tyre damage guarantee, you can claim for a replacement of the tyre on the tread that you have used on the damaged tyre.
For example if your tyre has 7mm of tread when it is brand new and when the tyre needs to be replaced there is 5mm of tread left. You only pay for the 2mm of tread that was used to replace your tyre.
- What is the validity period of the tyre damage guarantee from Bridgestone and Firestone?
It is valid for one year from the date of purchase of the tyre
- How often should we change our tyres?
There is no hard and fast rule, the best way to check would be to measure the tread depth of the tyre or have a professional assess your tyres at a fitment centre.
- What is the average time it takes to change a set of four new tyres?
It can take anything between an hour to one and a half hours.
This includes a comprehensive 3D wheel alignment which should be done if you are changing two or more tyres.
- Can I change one tyre at a time?
It is advisable to change two tyres at a time so the vehicle does ride as smooth as possible. There are special circumstances if you do have a tyre that needs to be replaced and the other three are still fine then it is acceptable to change just one tyre.
- When should I get the wheel alignment and balancing done and how much will it cost me?
Fitment centres recommend that between every 8000 – 10000 km, wheel alignment and balancing should be done on your vehicle.
Wheel alignment is on average R300 – R400 (depending on your fitment centre) and balancing is a R50 per tyre.
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Ziyaad Plaatjes is the Co-Founder of iloveza.com.
He is a Bachelor of Commerce Honours graduate and has been running businesses since the age of 13. Ziyaad is a registered Financial Advisor, but has taken on many roles in various industries over the years. With his entrepreneurial skills and vast knowledge he assists individuals and businesses to grow and achieve their goals.
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