Tire Maintenance Tips for Students
Are you or someone you know about to start driving to college? If yes, we recommend you check out this article as it will be beneficial in preparing the vehicle for the daily trips. Unfortunately, most students or parents forget about tire maintenance's importance. It can be life-threatening considering a tyre’s critical functions. Without due maintenance, the tire can't carry out these functions, impacting performance and safety. Let's review top tire maintenance tips for students.
Check Tire Pressure
PitStopArabia recommends checking the tire pressure at least once every month. Do not forget the spare tire. You can find the recommended tire pressure in the car owner's manual or the tire placard inside the driver's door. Ask the mechanic to close the valve cap tightly to prevent leaking.
Modern vehicles are equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). As the name suggests, it monitors the tire pressure and alerts the driver if there is a drop in air pressure. The issue is that the TPMS only beeps when the pressure drops 25 percent below the recommended level. It is why PitStopArabia stresses the need to check the tire pressure once every month manually.
Read More:
How Does Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Work?
How TPMS Can Save From A Tire Blowout?
Alignment
While driving, it is common to drive over a pothole or hit a curb. Although it may feel that no harm is done, that’s not the case. The reason is that driving over potholes or hitting a curb can damage tires or put the wheels out of alignment. Resultantly, your vehicle may pull to one side or experience vibrations. PitStopArabia recommends availing of wheel alignment services before the classes start to ensure that everything is as per the manufacturer's requirements.
Tire Rotation
The general recommendation is to rotate your tires every 8,000 – 11,000 km. Many people consider tyre rotation a futile exercise that has no benefits. However, it is not the case. There is considerable research that shows several benefits, including extending the tyres’ durability. Please refer to our article on tyre rotation for further information. Please remember that if your vehicle manufacturer has recommended a different range for tire rotation, adhere to it.
Tread Depth
The tread depth is an effective measure to calculate the tire's life. You will be slapped with a hefty fine if the tread is below the legal limit. But the fine is just one thing: driving below the legal tread depth impacts handling, traction, and overall performance. Therefore, ensure that the tire meets the U.A.E. legal tread limit. For further information about the legal tread limit and how to measure it, refer to this article: Tire Tread Limit – UAE
Spare Tire
If you are prepping the car for your child, ensure they know about the spare and how to change a flat tire. Having them practice a few times at home is a good idea. Secondly, save a vehicle recovery service provider’s contact information on their phone. Trust us when we say that it will come in handy one day.
Read More:
Spare Tire - What It Is And What You Need To Know About It
Tips For Maintaining And Driving On A Spare Tire
Overloading
Lastly, it is common for students to load their vehicles with friends and go on a road trip. While it is enjoyable, one should not forget a tyre's maximum load-carrying capacity. If the tires are loaded beyond this limit, it can lead to a tire blowout. Therefore, respect the load limit at all times.
Over to You
It concludes our post on top tire maintenance tips for students. Please adhere to these before handing the vehicle to a student or a first-time driver. It will ensure that they are safe and sound. Thank You.