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It pays to look after your tyres

What four vital components connect you and your car with the road below? Your tyres.
Providing much needed support and stability, they keep you safe while ensuring the smoothest possible ride. Buy the right ones and you’ll love the way your car drives. Get it wrong and you’ll eventually pay the price. Here are the 4 rules you need to know before letting the rubber hit the road.

SIZE

When it comes to tyres, size matters. So before you pimp your ride with a set of wide rims, check the manufacturer’s recommendations (you’ll find them on the tyre compliance plate inside your driver’s side door). Stick with what’s right for your car, and don’t let fast talking salespeople talk you into fitting a wider tyre on an ordinary wheel.

PRESSURES

Think tyre pressure recommendations are a load of hot air? Think again. If you want the perfect mix of all-round performance, ride comfort and maximum tyre life, then you need to get your pressure right. So once a month, pull into the servo and take a few minutes to check your tyres. Too much pressure is just as bad as not enough, so again, make sure you stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations on the sticker inside your driver’s door.

SWAP THEM AROUND

If you have a small to medium sized car, chances are you’ve got a front wheel drive. Why does that matter? It’s actually pretty simple. Because your front tyres are both driving the vehicle and providing the steering, they’re doing more work than the rear tyres (they’re also wearing out a heck of a lot quicker). So to get the most out of your tyres and avoid going bald on your front end, get your mechanic to rotate your tyres diagonally front to rear a few times a year.

DRIVING PLAYS A MASSIVE PART

Even with the right size and the right amount of pressure, how long your tyres last comes down to you. So think like Captain Sensible and avoid taking slow corners at a high speed. No one’s impressed with your wheel squeal, so stay safe and keep it slow.