Driving safety is crucial as even the slightest ignorance can cause serious road trouble. During a prolonged sunny spell, several aspects of a car’s performance can suffer. You will probably use more motor oil in the summer than in the winter, for example. In addition, the car battery may suffer if you use the air-conditioning for longer periods than you would at other times of the year. However, what many motorists fail to appreciate is just how much their tyres can suffer in the summer months. Tyres are an important part of how your car performs on the road but they are also crucial for remaining safe. You should think of your car’s tyres as among the most important safety systems in your vehicle and take just as much care with them as you would seatbelts, for instance. What are the things you should know at all times for car care, check out this safety checklist:
Debris in the Tread
When roads have not seen rain for a long time all sorts of debris will build up which would otherwise get washed away into drains. You will see sharp twigs, thorns and other natural things on the road which can all cause harm to a tyre if you drive over them. In addition, manmade items like nails and screws can build up during a period when no showers come to disperse them. You just need to look at your tyres once a week to confirm there is nothing sticking in that may cause a blowout if it continues to works its way in. In very hot weather bitumen from the road’s surface may melt and your tyres can pick up this sticking substance, too. Scrape away any you find on your tyres to keep them in good condition with a stiff brush.
Sidewall Damage – Why you should replace tyres
In the summer, your car’s tyres will be exposed to greater levels of ultraviolet light than at other times. Unless your car is kept in a garage during the daytime, the likelihood is that the long summer days will mean the sides of your tyres see more UV light. Over time, UV light will slowly begin to degrade tyres. This is because the rubber compound that tyres are made from can begin to split if the sun’s rays continue to shine for weeks and months on them. Most drivers notice this when gouge-like marks appear on their tyres’ sidewalls. If you see this, then you should seek replacement tyres sooner rather than later because they could come apart completely when you are driving. If you want to get them in London, then you can go for DAT Tyreswhere a good selection of new cheap tyres is available. As well as scratches, keep an eye open for bulging sections of tyre which also indicate there has been damage from the sun.
Correct Inflation Level
You may adjust your tyres’ air pressurein the summer. For instance, some drivers let some air out to offer more traction when parking on a farmer’s field. You might add pressure because you have a heavy load in the car, perhaps because you are heading off on a camping trip, too. Remember to put your tyres back to the recommended level of inflation if you do make an adjustment in the summer. Confirm your tyre pressure every few thousand miles on the road.
