Avoid red flags: How to prevent tyre failure (signs of tyre damage and safety tips to protect your loved ones)
Tyres can get damaged for a variety of reasons, such as wear that’s irregular or not being able to grip properly. This can happen even without the driver being aware.
Australian tyre recycler and founder of Branigans Tyres, Chris Lett, gives insight into identifying common tyre warning signs to prevent unnecessary accidents.
“Some of the most common kinds of issues include uneven wear, punctures, cracks, and impacts,” says Lett.
Lett explains how irregular wear, some of which are heel and toe wear, centre wear, and one-sided wear, occur.
Heel and toe wear is a pattern that appears when the tread is worn after normal usage. It’s caused by the forces that distort the treads surface. “Cross-grooves are also used to prevent water from pooling,” says Lett, “these are typically worn by people with low-profile tyres”.
“These components are important because tread grooves and sipes are required to prevent water damage and tread voids are formed to displace the water from the road,” Lett further adds, “a minor amount of heel and toe wear does not affect driving comfort. However, if the wear is more extensive, it could cause problems”.
The wear pattern on the wheels of high-powered cars can be seen in the areas where the vehicle accelerates. It can also be caused by the high levels of torque that can be produced by stopping or accelerating at low speeds.
“One-sided wear is usually caused by incorrect axle geometry, and it can develop over time and is the result of improper mounting,” says Lett. Many motorists do not realise that “lowering the vehicle’s height can also affect its wheel alignment,” says Lett. In addition, having low-profile tires can also cause the wheels to deviate from their intended position
“Ignoring the damage caused by improper maintenance increases the risk of tyre failure in the future,” says Lett, this can usually be caused by either the tread and plies getting damaged or the sidewall getting torn apart”.
A cut on the tyre is not to be ignored. “This is often caused by external factors that have caused it to develop,” says Lett, “such as the road conditions and protruding bodywork components.
Punctures are commonly an obvious tyre failure to take note of. Punctures are often caused because of sharp objects hitting the tyre’s surface. “If they get deep enough, the vehicle could lose its air pressure,” says Lett, “having a tyre specialist inspect and repair it could help prevent this issue”.
“There are many ways to prevent tyre damage,” says Lett. Ideally, the position of the tyres should be rotated at regular intervals to promote even tyre wear. “This ensures that they are positioned correctly to prevent damage,” says Lett.
Lett explains that rotating tyres on a regular basis, will result in a uniform pattern of wear across all tyres. “If possible, avoid an obstacle while driving and approach it slowly. Also, check the tyres for exterior damage,” Lett adds.
Branigans Tyres has well-established workshops in Burleigh Heads and Southport in the Gold Coast region. Check out their full range of services or current featured promotions. Branigans award-winning affordable tyre subscriptions package starts at $7.97 and helps motorists budget for their ongoing tyre needs.
Vehicle owners are encouraged to drive in at their convenience as no pre-bookings or appointments are required. The branches are Burleigh Heads: (07) 5535 2660 situated at 13 Flagstone Drive or Southport: (07) 5591 8633 located at 1/277 Southport-Nerang Rd.
Written and Syndicated by YDMA News.
