What to Look for During Tyre Inspections
Your tyres are your vehicle’s connection to the road, making regular inspections an important part of basic car maintenance. A Saturday morning is the perfect opportunity to spend a few minutes checking them before your next drive.
Give Each Tyre a Proper Check
Start by checking tyre pressure when the tyres are cold and compare the readings with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Then inspect the tread for excessive or uneven wear, which could indicate alignment, suspension, or pressure problems.
While you’re there, look carefully for:
- Cuts, cracks, bulges, embedded objects, damaged valves, and unusually worn sections of tread.
Don’t stop at the rubber. Since you’re already crouched beside the vehicle, look around the wheels and underneath the car for leaking fluids. Fresh patches or drips could indicate problems involving brakes, coolant, engine oil, transmission fluid, or other vehicle systems.
Finally, remember to inspect the spare tyre if your vehicle carries one. Discovering that your spare is flat when you’re stranded beside the road isn’t ideal.
A tyre inspection only takes a few minutes, but spotting a developing problem early could prevent a breakdown, expensive repairs, or a dangerous situation on the road.
