What you may not know about your tyres

Approximately 50 million new tyres are supplied in the UK every year for use on cars, vans, trucks and buses and are something most of us rely on every day to get from A to B. But, for an item we use without even thinking twice about – whether for our own travel, the delivery of products or professional needs, there are plenty of facts we don’t know about them.

To ensure you are tyre literate and safe on the road, here are some interesting insights that may have passed you by…

1. Speed rating

Car manufacturers’ recommendations should always be followed and a reputable tyre fitting service used; if a tyre with a low-speed rating is fitted to a car capable of high speeds, the tyre could be pushed beyond what it was designed for, as different speed ratings are possible for similar tyre sizes.

2. Wheel alignment

Wheels can lose their alignment in several ways – potholes, curbs, or simple wear and tear. You can tell that the alignment is off if you feel like the steering wheel is pulling while you are driving. We recommend having your alignment checked every 30,000 miles. At the same time, you should also have your wheels balanced and rotated to ensure smooth driving.

3. Sidewall markings

Found on the sidewall of the tyre, the combination of letters and numbers will tell you: how high and wide the tyre is (Width), how high the tyre wall is (Profile), how fast they can go (Speed rating), what weight they can carry (Load index) and the diameter of the inside rim (Wheel size).

4. Date of manufacture

Tyres made since 2000 feature a four-figure manufacturing date stamp. The first two digits represent the week of the year, while the latter two represent the year itself. For instance, 3523 would indicate a tyre made in week 35 of the year 2023. We recommend that tyres which are more than ten years old should be replaced. A three-figure number indicates a pre-millennium tyre, and no number at all could mean that the tyre predates the 1990s.

5. The watch outs for over or under inflating

Both over and under-inflating tyres can have negative effects on the tyre. It can lead to them wearing out prematurely and lasting half their lifetime. It can also cause a loss of traction, due to the change in grip, and create a more uncomfortable ride.

Underinflation can be just as dangerous. If the tyre is underinflated, more of it touches the road and it creates more friction. The increased friction can lead to the tyre overheating and cause premature wear, tread separation, and blowouts.

It’s fair to say that tyres are far more intricate than you may realise, they connect our vehicles to the road and are so imperative to modern-day society. As our tyres deserve regular TLC it’s key to understand how they work, to find out more tips and tricks to tyre maintenance, visit here.

Or, if you have any questions, find your local Davanti dealership here.