HOW TO – YOUR PERSONALIZED GUIDE TO TYRES

A car with baggage on top of it in the desert under a cloudy sky at daytime

The Middle East can be a challenging environment for tyres. Intense heat impacts on the rubber, making it hard and vulnerable to blow outs. Rough surfaces increase the risk of external damage and cuts. Driving long distances at high speeds places extra pressure on the tyre, especially during the heat of summer. The opportunity to go off the road creates adventure, as

well as new challenges for your tyres. Yet the Middle East has always been a place where

people have thrived. Through innovation and adaptation, it’s a region with a proud history and a

future that is being admired by the rest of the world. Just like people have adapted to the conditions, so must the tyres. Understanding the impact of local driving conditions helps you increase the lifespan of your tyres, as well as maximizing your vehicle’s performance and safety.

RoadX has created three five-point guides. These are an essential starting point for improving safety and performance on the Middle East’s roads.

  1. Visual Inspection

Inspect your tyres with your eyes, taking a minute to study their general appearance. Does anything look out of place? Tyres should not hold surprises, so if something appears strange then it usually indicates you have a problem. When inspecting, ask yourself:

• Does the tyre have any strange lumps or bulges?

• Are there cracks or cuts on the side of the tyre?

• Are there cracks or cuts on the tread?

While you are checking, remove stones and any others objects that are embedded in the tread.

 

  1. Tyre Tread Depth

The legal limit for tyre tread depth in the UAE is 1.6mm. Most new tyres start with a tread depth of 8mm, with some starting at more than 10mm. The general rule is that if the tyre appear too thin then they probably need replacing. Every tyre has a Tread Wear Indicator (TWI), with small marking that show the level of tread remaining. You should be able to see a step in the grooves around the TWI. If you don’t, and the tread has been worn down to the Tread Wear Indicator marking, you need to replace your tyres.

• Tyres with very low tread depth have very little grip. This makes your vehicle handle poorly and require greater distance in order to stop.

• As the tyre tread gets lower it increases the risk of a puncture or tyre blowout. It also increases the potential of cracks in the rubber.

• If the tread has been run bare or you can see a canvas patch on your tyre then the tyre is both dangerous and illegal. It must be changed immediately.

Another simple method for checking tyre tread depth is to use a one dirham coin. Insert the coin into the major tread grooves. If it doesn’t stay in place then replace your tyre immediately. If it does, check to see how much of the dallah coffee jug is visible above the tyre tread. At least some of the jug should be hidden within the tyre groove; if the whole jug is visible then replace your tyre.

  1. Tyre Pressure

Properly inflated tyres reduce your vehicle’s running costs and increase the life of the tyre. Incorrect tyre pressure also affects your vehicle’s handling and makes it unstable.

• You can check and change your tyre pressure at most garages.

• The optimum tyre pressure for your tyres will be detailed in your vehicle handbook. It is also shown on a sticker on the inside of the driver’s door.

• Tyre pressure should be tested when your tyres are cold. Check them at the start of your journey, not the end.

  1. Irregular Wear

Irregular wear can be caused by many reasons: misaligned steering, worn suspension, aggressive driving, scuffing and jumping over kerbs, and the over or under inflation of the tyre.

Your tyres should wear evenly. Examine if one part of the tyre is worn more than the rest.

• Follow the tread around the tyre’s diameter. Is it the same?

• Check the wear across the tyre’s width. Is it the same?

• If your tyre is wearing more on the both edges then they have probably been under-inflated.

• If your tyre is more worn down in the centre than it is likely that they have been over-inflated.

• If your tyre is worn on just one side then this commonly indicates a problem with the suspension, or that the angle the wheel sits need adjusting (the camber).

• If your tyres are wearing unevenly and randomly then your wheel alignment is probably wrong. This is very common on front tyres.

  1. Remember the Spare Tyre

You should always have five tyres. Not just four. So when performing your checks, remember the spare tyre.