Tyres & Wheels
Tyre pressures, tread depth, rotation, alignment and when to replace — the tyre care that keeps a new car safe on South African roads.
Tyres are the only part of a car that touches the road, and every braking, cornering and accelerating force passes through four contact patches not much bigger than your hand. They are also the component most affected by South African conditions: pothole strikes, hot tar in summer, gravel shoulders and the long highway stretches between cities all wear tyres faster than the manufacturer's laboratory figures assume.
Looking after tyres is mostly a matter of habit. Check pressures monthly and before long trips, using the figures on the sticker inside the driver's door rather than the number on the tyre sidewall. Inspect tread depth and look for uneven wear, which points to alignment or suspension problems. Rotate tyres at the interval in your service book so they wear evenly, and replace them in pairs or sets rather than singly. Tyres are a wear item, so they fall outside a service plan and a standard warranty, although a maintenance plan may cover them in some cases.
Tyres & Wheels — questions
The questions people ask about tyres & wheels, answered plainly.
What tyre pressure should I use on my new car?
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Use the pressures printed on the placard inside the driver's door frame or in the owner's manual, not the maximum pressure moulded into the tyre sidewall. Many cars list two settings, one for normal driving and one for a fully loaded car or towing. Check pressures when the tyres are cold, because driving heats the air inside and raises the reading.
How do I know when my tyres need replacing?
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Every tyre has tread-wear indicators, small raised bars inside the grooves. When the tread wears level with these bars the tyre is at the legal minimum and must be replaced. Also replace tyres that show cracking in the sidewall, bulges after a pothole strike, or uneven wear that has exposed the inner cords, regardless of how much tread remains elsewhere.
Are tyres covered by my new-car warranty or service plan?
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Usually not. Tyres are classed as a wear item, so a standard service plan and the manufacturer's warranty exclude them. Some maintenance plans include tyre replacement up to a set limit, and tyre manufacturers offer their own warranties against manufacturing defects. Damage from potholes and kerbs is generally the owner's cost, which is why some insurers offer tyre and rim cover as an add-on.
Why do my tyres wear unevenly?
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Uneven wear almost always points to something other than the tyre. Wear on both edges suggests under-inflation, wear in the centre suggests over-inflation, and wear on one edge only usually means the wheel alignment is out, often after a pothole. Have the alignment checked whenever you notice this pattern or after any hard impact, because correcting it early saves the tyre.
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