R I G H T    L A N E

Let's face it—compared to a shiny engine or snazzy-looking instrument panel, tires are hardly the most glamorous part of a car.  Yet they are always among the most critical of a car's systems because they perform a critical task --the car's actual contact with the road.   Keeping your car planted on the road (or churning through some soft, treacherous surface) and pointed where it should be is the ultimate job of the tires. 

Caring for Your Tires

So how should you take care of these four round lifesavers?   

First of all, make sure they're properly inflated.  Each time before you enter your car, glance at all four tires to make sure they're not soft or flat.  Fixing a flat is much easier in a parking lot or garage than out on the open road.  At least once a month, or better yet, every two weeks, check the tire pressures using an accurate pressure gauge.  Visual inspection is fine for a safety check with each trip, but tires that have lost quite a bit of air may still look round even though they're severely underinflated.   

To get an accurate reading, check the pressure when the tires are "cold"—that is, if the car has been parked for at least four hours and has been driven for less than 1 km since.   Tires that are "warm" or have just been driven will normally have a pressure a few kilopascals or pounds per square inch higher than the standard.  This is normal and you shouldn't bleed air from the tires.  If a tire is below its recommended pressure, take out your foot pump and start pumping!  If the legs are too tired or lazy, you can head to the gas station to charge up with air.  Remember to check your spare tire, too.  The spare should be inflated 6-8 psi higher than the road tires, as they will inevitably lose some air when not in use.  A lot of gas station pressure gauges are not accurate, so bring your gauge.  With a gauge, you will also be able to note if a tire is slowly deflating.  If it is, have it checked for punctures as soon as possible.

When a tire loses its air pressure on the road, it's likely to lessen your control of the vehicle.  The steering wheel may pull to one side and become difficult to turn.  If deflation is severe, the affected tire may even be dismounted from the metal wheel.  Unless your name is Bond, James Bond, this is a dangerous occurrence. If you do feel a loss of handling or steering control, don't jerk your wheel suddenly or slam on the brakes.  Just ease off the gas, apply the brakes gently and bring your car to a halt.  If you're on a major road or highway, better to drive at walking speed (about 2-3 km/h) and get off at the nearest exit or intersection, then find a safe place to change your tire.  Better to ruin one tire than risk your life changing the flat with cars whizzing by at high speeds.

Proper tire inflation will help you maintain good fuel economy.  You can even use tire inflation to slightly improve your vehicle's handling characteristics.  If you increase the inflation of your front tires 1-2 psi above the recommended level, you can attain a crisper steering response, perhaps at the expense of a bumpier ride.  The improvement will be modest at best, but the cost is just a few pumps of your foot.  Take note that you should never exceed the maximum allowable pressure and that your suspension may suffer greater wear.

Rotating your tires (changing their position on the car, say from front to rear) will help even out their wear and substantially increase their lifespan.   Rotation is usually done every 10,000 km.  Rotation schedules and directions vary by model and variant, so check out your owner's manual.

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