To keep your car tires in good condition for as long as possible, there are a number of rules to follow. We tell you everything about how to limit the wear and tear of your tires and thus ensure your safety in the car.
Inflated tires: the numbers that speak
Half of British motorists drive with at least one under-inflated tire, while many studies have shown the crucial role of tires for driving safety: only 20% of drivers follow the manufacturers' recommendations (ie a control once per year). months), and 50% of drivers check their tires three times or less a year.
Ten tips for properly inflated tires
Check and adjust tire pressure once a month
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations, located on the driver's door and in the operating manual.
Perform the operation "cold", that is to say having rolled less than 10 kilometers, or after a break of 2 hours.
Avoid inflating a hot tire
A rolling tire heats up. The contained air expands and distorts the measurements. In case of emergency inflation, add 0.3 bar to the recommended pressure.
Have the tire-wheel assembly checked by a professional
If one of your tires loses more than 0.4 bar per month, go quickly to see your car mechanic.
Do not over-inflate the tires
Tires that are too inflated have less ground contact area, their sidewalls stiffen, and all this deteriorates the behavior of the vehicle (unless it is overloaded, see point 8).
Be careful, 20% over-inflated tires reduce their lifespan by about 10,000 km.
The spare wheel must also be properly inflated
Remember to inflate your spare wheel, in case of puncture it could be useful. And only for her, add 0.3 bar to the recommended pressure.
Check the condition of the valves and their caps
Replacing the valves with each tire change is essential for your safety. Caps that protect the valves and ensure a better seal of the tires are also essential. If you miss it, buy new ones.
If your tires are inflated with nitrogen, respect the manufacturer's pressure
The rubber on your tires is more nitrogen-tight than air-tight. The pressure is the same as for air, and the two gases mix. But beware, the inflation with nitrogen is often paying.
Adjust the tire pressure to your load
Manufacturers sometimes indicate this, but in any case, if you have to ride at full load, over-inflate your tires by 0.2 bar.
If you ride a camper
This type of vehicle often runs little. All the more reason to be attentive to the pressure before departure. If the recommended one is greater than 4.7 bars, the valves must be metallic.
If you are towing a caravan
Unless otherwise stated in your car manual, add 0.4 bar to the rear tires. For the caravan, adopt a pressure of 3 bars.