Do you know when you need NEW tyres?

HAVING to purchase a new tyre often means looking at the budget and determining when the purchase can be made and what you can afford. What is important to remember is that there are a lot of new tyres on the market from exceptional brands, like GoodYear and Sava, that are affordable, so shop around. Don’t think that because a tyre has a particular brand name that it is going to be out of your price range, call Trentyre to make a simple enquiry about the range they stock, availability and of course the all-important deciding factor,the price.

Tyres are a necessity, but should also be looked at like a long-term investment that is going into the upkeep of your car, and of course the safety of your family or friends that will be travelling with you.

A good question to ask yourself is “How do I know that I need knew tyres?” There are many physical signs that can alert you to the fact.

But did you know that there are three main deciding factors that you need to be aware of when deciding to purchase news tyres?

These include tyre tread, the exposure to the elements and the age of the tyre.

Here are a few tips from Trentyre Zimbabwe on these three important factors;namely the elements, tyre tread and tyre age: The natural elements that your tyre may be exposed to will depend on where you live. In Zimbabwe, we have a mostly moderate climate so temperature changes are not usually a concern, but it is important to remember that exposure to heat and the sun’s ultraviolet rays may cause structural changes to your tyres over time. It will benefit you in the long run to be aware of where your car is parked for the majority of the time and the temperature of the surfaces you travel on.

On tyre tread, the most obvious question often asked is “Why do tyres have tread?” Anyone who has had a bald tyre and has had the misfortune to experience aquaplaning will appreciate the importance of tyre tread. Aquaplaning is where the car loses traction and slides along the surface of the road, and you are unable to maintain control of it.

This occurs because a layer of water sits between the tyre and the surface of the road. A tyre’s tread is specifically designed to stop this and to allow water to be expelled. The amount of rubber in ratio to airspace that has contact with the surface of the road determines the amount of traction you have.

Daniel Perlman, Managing Director of Trentyre: “The tread or grooves that are found on tyres are designed to expel water from beneath the tyre in wet weather to prevent a vehicle from hydroplaning. There has been,and continues to be,a lot of research and development on the direct association between tyre tread pattern and optimum tyre performance to ensure customers get the best from their tyres. As tread wears, unfortunately so does a tyre’s performance. So as soon as your tyres have reached their tyre tread wear limit it is time to get new tyres. An important point to remember is that tyres deteriorate at different rates, so be sure to inspect them all and don’t forget the spare.”

Tyres have tread wear limit indicators on them in the form of small raised bridges that sit within the grooves. When the tyre tread has worn down to the point that the limit indicators are in contact with the road surface, this is a good gauge that the tyre will not perform as it should and new tyres should be purchased. Manufacturers like GoodYear, place a triangle or arrow on the side wall of the tyre at the point where each limit indicator bridge has been placed within the groove so they can be located easily.’’

When it comes to the age of your tyres remember that not all tyres are created equal and there are good general practices like checking the manufacturer’s recommended time frame for use. This could be considered a “keep an eye on your tyres” period, which is generally between five and six years old. All tyres have a manufacture date on the side wall,this can be your guide. However, if your tyres are 10 years or older it is definitely time to consider replacing them.Tyres contains moisture and oils that help keep them supple and assist in dispersing heat. As a tyre ages it loses this suppleness because the oils naturally evaporate. This can result in damage to the tyre and loss of performance.