How to maintain tires properly
Regular maintenance is an easy and inexpensive way to prolong the life of tires. Check tires regularly either at home or when visiting a garage or filling station.

Checklist:

• Check the correct pressures against the manufacturer's recommendations or against the tire's sidewall markings (if they are the correct tires for the vehicle)
• Visually inspect for cuts, bulges or sidewall damage
• Check tread depth. A small tool is available to accurately measure treads
• Check and adjust pressures as necessary. Remember - not all garage gauges give accurate readings.
• Clean dirt from around valves, fit valve caps all round and check for leakage (especially following inflation)
• Remove stones and other foreign objects from treads
• Have the steering alignment checked if front tires show signs of excessive or uneven wear
• Examine brakes if tires show signs of wear through wheel locking
• Have front wheels and tires balanced if there are signs of vibration, wheel wobble or patchy tire wear.      

Tire examination
It is vital that tires are examined before, during and after long journeys.

Look for the following: 

• Do the tread and sidewalls have any irregular wear?
• Are there any signs of damage (cuts, bulges etc)?
• Are there any impacted stones or sharp objects between the treads?      

Prise out any small stones, etc. with a suitable tool, taking care not to penetrate the rubber. Other imbedded objects like nails should be left in place while the tire remains inflated, until the vehicle can be driven to a local tire depot for repair. If a sharp object is forced out of a tire, the result will almost certainly be a flat tire. If it is safe to do so, drive to a repair depot rather than changing a tire on the roadside.

Tire pressure
An essential ingredient for keeping tires in good condition is air. Air provides optimum performance, gives maximum life and carries the weight of the vehicle and its load. Running under-inflated tires is a sure way of reducing tire life expectancy. This is because the sidewall, which isn't designed to be in continual contact with the road, will be subjected to the stresses that are normally absorbed by the tread and the air in the tire. It can also lead to bad vehicle handling or a blow out while driving at speed.

• Inflation pressures should be checked only when the tires are cold
• The correct inflation pressures are given in the vehicle Driver's Handbook.      

Tire storage
At home, check for leakage at the valves (especially following inflation) and replace any missing valve caps. If the tires show any sign of uneven wear the vehicle should be checked to ensure correct alignment and balance of the wheels. 

Tires should be stored in cool, dry conditions, out of direct sunlight and as far as possible from equipment generating electricity. Storage of tires outdoors leads to moisture absorption and an increased risk of premature tire failure. 

Driving well
The way a car is driven can lead to excessive tire wear and damage. 

The following advice will help with protection of tires:

• Avoid driving over or scrubbing against kerb edgings or other raised obstructions
• Avoid stopping the vehicle on surfaces covered in oil, grease, diesel fuel or other chemicals
• Before high speed journeys, always adjust tire pressure when the vehicle is fully laden
• Before and after long journeys, or motorway journeys, carefully examine the tires and check their pressure (do not check pressures while tires are warm)
• The steering wheel of cars with power-steering should not be turned while they are stationary)
• Avoid driving over rough, uneven, unmade ground or over ground littered with debris. If unavoidable, check tires immediately afterwards to ensure that no foreign objects have become trapped in the tread patterns. Examine the sidewalls for cuts or bulges.      

Avoiding tire trouble
There any many reasons for tire trouble, the three main causes are:

Problems caused by under inflation
Surveys by tire service engineers show that at least 25 per cent of all tires examined are under inflated by more than 10 per cent. Under inflation is one of the main reasons for rapid shoulder wear, uneven tread wear and premature tire failure. But take care; overinflation may also result in inferior handling, excessive tire wear and premature failure. 

The dangers of overloading
It is illegal to load cars, light vans and lightweight trailers above what they are designed to carry. Overloading puts excessive strain on the tires, increases normal deflection and causes overheating. This will lead to rapid wear, greater susceptibility to impact damage and the danger of premature failure. 

• Always check the vehicle handbook for increased inflation pressures for full load conditions.      

The effects of high speed travel
Travelling for long distances at high speeds generates a build up of heat. This leads to increased tire wear and deflection.

• Keep the tires in good condition, correctly inflated and only drive to their maximum rated speeds to withstand heat build-up.