Winters
in the UK are characterized by low temperatures, blizzards, and even
snowfall. Road visibility takes a hit and often falls below a mere 30
metres. Not to mention the deplorable tarmac conditions, replete with
ice and sleet, every driver’s nightmare. Under such circumstances,
you must only use winter tyres, particularly designed to combat such
inclement weather.
That
leaves your summer tyres, the ones you normally use in non-winter
months, laying idly for 4-5 months. How do you take care of these
unused tyres, knowing fully well that disuse will damage them
irreparably?
Here
are 5 ways how!
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Store Unused Tyres in a Dry and Warm Place: The easiest way to store your tyres is to keep them inside an indoor garage. Such garages are free from moisture, immune to rain or snowfall, and provide enough space to store both your car and its wheels.
In case you do not own an indoor garage, you can contact your local
car service bay. Most of these facilities also rent out garage space
at very reasonable rates. If you live in or around Sandy, you can
store your Tyres in St Neots at garages such as Sandy Auto
Centre. They can also help you with their wide range of car services,
besides selling OEM equipment and tyres from various brands.
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Keep Tyres Away from Solvents: Car paint, thinners, all manner of vehicle fluids and even cleaning agents are packed with solvents. Such fluids deal considerable damage and erode the tyre surface. You must ensure that your tyres never reach an area where such solvent-based dyes are stored.
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Stack them up on Racks: A particular type of frame is nowadays available for a few pounds, meant to store tyres. If you are storing a tyre set, your reliable summer Tyres Bedford for example, use the rack. These are big enough to store all 4 tyres, plus a spare. They are vital to avoid tyres from touching the ground, and are not exposed to moisture. Plus, you will never get confused between new wheels and used ones.
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Check for any Debris or Damage: Car tyres are prone to damage over the long run as they pick up metal debris like nails, stone chips and other waste from the tarmac. All these detrimental sediments stick to the rubber surface, damaging it as well as the cord layer underneath. A visual inspection, therefore, is a must before storage starts.
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Check Tyre Inflation Periodically: First things first, you will require a handheld pressure monitor. Once you have one, go through your car owner’s manual to know the optimal tyre inflation pressure. Next, use the monitor to determine the pressure of each tyre. If the tyre needs more air, refill it. If the pressure levels are too high, gently turn the valve to let some extra air out. You will save your tyres from harm.
You now have 5 fool-proof ways to take care of your car’s tyres.
These are more or less applicable to all types and variants, whether
they are winter, summer or all-season wheels. Store your tyres
wisely, and you will never have to buy a new set before time.