Examination
A conscientious attitude to regularly checking the condition of the tires will allow the driver to avoid annoying delays associated with the failure of the wheel while driving. In addition, by the nature of the wear of the treads, defects in the suspension and steering components that are in the development stage can be detected in advance.
The standard equipment of the cars considered in this Guide includes wheels equipped with special indicator tapes, having a width of about 12 mm and appearing on the tread pattern when the latter is worn to an acceptable limit. The minimum allowable tread depth is 1.6mm. You can assess the degree of tread wear using a special inexpensive device - ask in car accessories stores.
Look out for any signs of uneven tread wear. Such local defects as bowl-shaped rubbing, flattening, etc., usually owe their occurrence to violations of the angles of the front wheels, or the balance of the latter. To identify and eliminate faults, the car should be driven to a specialized car service workshop or to a service station.
Insufficient tire inflation pressure
cupped defects
The following reasons for the formation of cup-shaped defects are possible:
- Tires are too loosely inflated or there is a mechanical deflection (wheel imbalance or disk deformation).
- The tie rods or steering swing arm are loose, or the listed components are worn out.
- Front suspension components damaged or worn or loose
Tire inflation pressure too high
Violated toe-in adjustment, or too much camber
Flaky tread wear caused by misalignment of wheels
1. Carefully inspect all tires for cuts, punctures, and foreign objects stuck in the grooves of the tread pattern. Sometimes a punctured tire continues to hold air inside itself for some more time due to the fact that the object that punctured the tire continues to be stuck into it. The reason for the slow deflation of the tire may be a defect in the nipple of the wheel inflation valve - check the condition of the nipple.
2. Carefully inspect the protector for foreign objects stuck in it and signs of a violation of the tightness of the fit of the repair «traffic jams», used to repair small tire punctures. It is quite simple to verify the presence of a puncture - it is enough to moisten the suspected area of the tire surface with a solution of soapy water - if a puncture occurs, the solution will begin to bubble. Minor punctures are usually easily repaired at tire shops.
3. Carefully inspect the inner walls of the tires of all four wheels for the presence of brake fluid leaks on them. If any are found, immediately check the condition of the relevant brake mechanisms and the hydraulic lines connected to them.
4. Maintaining the required tire inflation pressure will significantly extend the life of the wheels, in addition, it will provide maximum driving comfort and will not reduce the vehicle's controllability. Remember that it is almost impossible to determine the correct tire pressure by eye, especially when it comes to radial tires. It is necessary to keep a suitable pressure gauge on hand at all times - the readings of the booster compressor meters at gas stations and service stations should not be trusted.
5. Check the tire inflation pressure when the tires are cold - it is assumed that the car has traveled no more than one mile in the last three hours. Remember that an increase in pressure by 0.3-0.6 kgf / cm 2 as a result of wheel heating is a completely natural phenomenon.
6. Remove the protective cap from the wheel inflation valve and firmly press the manometer nozzle to the valve outlet, pressing the nipple stem. Read the reading and compare it with the normative data, correct the pressure if necessary. Checking your tire inflation pressure weekly will extend the life of your tires (don't forget the spare)
7. Do not forget to screw the protective cap of the valve back into place to prevent moisture and dirt from entering the nipple. Check the pressure in all tires, including the spare.
The inflation pressure of a compact type spare tire is usually noticeably higher than that of conventional wheels.
Wheel rotation
Wheel rotation should be performed regularly in accordance with the vehicle's routine maintenance schedule, as well as when signs of uneven tread wear are detected. When rotating, the car must be raised off the ground - take this opportunity and also check the condition of the braking system components (see Checking the brake system).
The compilers of this Guide recommend rotating wheels equipped with radial tires in accordance with the proposed schemes. Most models are equipped with tires with directional tread - directional tires are easy to distinguish by the presence of an arrow on the side wall indicating the correct direction of rotation of the wheel. The kit should include two tires with the right direction of rotation and two - with the left.
Recommended rotation order for wheels fitted with NON-DIRECTIONAL tread tires
1 - LEFT FRONT
2 - RIGHT FRONT
Recommended rotation order for wheels fitted with DIRECTIONAL tread tires
3 - LEFT REAR
4 - RIGHT REAR
For a detailed description of the procedure for changing wheels, see Jacking and towing. Track reliability of fixing of the car in the lifted position.
It would be most correct to raise the entire car above the ground - in no case is it unacceptable to use less than four props to fix the car in a raised position!
After the rotation is completed, check the inflation pressure of the tires, correct it according to the regulations. Make sure the wheel nuts are secure (Ideally the wheel bolts should be tightened with a torque wrench and re-checked after 40 km).
For more information on wheels and tires, see Chapter Suspension and steering.
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