How to Do Your Own Tyre Safety Check
Where the rubber meets the road is an expression that refers to the point when you put a theory to the test of reality. In a literal sense, putting the rubber to the road is when you take your car out and rely on your tyres to get you somewhere. To ensure the journey is as safe as possible, you should consider a tyre safety check before you leave. Here are some questions to consider.
Do You Have Enough Tread?
Tread is grip. To explain how tread keeps you safe, imagine walking over a slippery gym floor with a pair of trainers with lots of grips on the bottom. That gives you stability so you don't slip and slide around on the floor.
In contrast, imagine walking over the same floor in a pair of flats with no grips on the bottom. You have to move extremely cautiously to ensure you don't slip. The same thing happens when your tyres don't have enough tread.
Under Australian law, your tread has to be at least 1.5 mm deep. If it's less than that, your car is risky to drive, and you may get a fine. Ideally, you should consider replacing your tyre when the tread gets down to 3.0 mm.
Do Your Tyres Have the Right Air Pressure?
Then, you should check the air pressure on your tyres. Most tyres have the ideal air pressure levels printed on them. If you don't have a tyre pressure gauge, invest in one—they are an inexpensive and affordable tool.
Then, you can test your air pressure whilst you are travelling as well as before you leave. If your pressure is low, you can refill your tyres at most service stations. That is usually free or available for a small fee.
Have the Tyres Been Rotated Lately?
To be safe, you need to rotate your tyres on a regular basis. If you haven't rotated your tyres lately, you should schedule a rotation. You can do a visual check to assess if you need a rotation by looking at the tread.
If the tread is wearing down unevenly, that is usually a sign that you need to bring in the tyres for a rotation. This can also indicate that your alignment is off, and you should also get that checked.
You don't have to do your tyre safety check on your own. Instead, contact a repair place that does tyre safety checks and have those professionals look over your vehicle.
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