#TyreChallenge and Tips for Looking After Your Tyres

As someone who is only, at the moment, getting very sparse amounts of lessons, on an irregular basis, it probably should not have shocked me too much. However, I was still rather hoping that the results of the #TyreChallenge that I took from Kwik Fit would show that I had a good understanding about tyres and all-important topics related to them. Alas, I only scored a measly 5 out of 10. I clearly need to do more research.

It did highlight to me though, why it is so important, especially for drivers who have passed their test and use their cars on a regular basis, to have a good level of knowledge about tyres.

As a result of my incredibly bad performance in that test therefore, I thought I’d offer some great and relatively simple tips for keeping an eye on the health and condition of your tyres. Remember to use the Kwik Fit tyre search if you need to buy replacements.

Regularly Check the Pressure

Starting with the most important tip of them all, you should regularly check the pressure. Why? the pressure of your tyres can have a huge impact on everything from mileage and braking, to handling and steering. When the pressure is too high or too low, it can make the chances of them wearing down and being damaged, higher, and can also increase how quickly your fuel runs out. If you are still not getting just how serious this is – tyres with the wrong pressure can blowout, which can adversely affect the handling of your car.

Regularly Check Your Tyres Visually

As well as checking the pressure, you need to also visually inspect your tyres for any signs of wear and tear. Don’t just give them a quick once over and ignore the smaller cuts and scrapes. Pay close attention to any bulges and cuts. These should be inspected and dealt with by a professional as soon as possible. While it’s true that tyres can be damaged beyond repair, the sooner a problem is dealt with, the less likely it may have to be that you have to fork out the cash for a brand new one.

Avoid Overloading Your Car

Rather than just being a minor inconvenience, overloading your car can actually cause more serious problems. Not only can the extra weight cause complications with your car’s handling and more quickly wear down the tyre, but it can also cause a tyre explosion. This is obviously not something you want to happen when you are driving around in it. So be more sensible with how much stuff you pack into your car.

Be Careful When Mounting Kerbs

This is one thing that so many people don’t actually do. While it is often unavoidable to drive up onto the kerb, you should still be cautious and careful when doing so. Particularly if you are trying to get as much use out of your tyres as possible. When you mount kerbs haphazardly on a regular basis it can result in the sidewall of the tyre being pinched between the wheel and kerb, which will not only weaken your tyres, but may also cause a blowout.

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