Your Role

- Acknowledged practice for additional safety
- Tyre Selection
- Speed guidelines
- Pressure guidelines
- Rotation guidelines
- Tyre cleaning guidelines
- Tyre load guidelines
- Wheel balance guidelines
- Alignment guidelines
- Driving with care
- Be smart play your PART

Acknowledged practice for additional safety Tyre centres and garages may take advantage of the acknowledged benefits of inflating car tyres with nitrogen rather than compressed air - more comfort and safety, up to 4% savings in fuel costs and up to 30% increase in tyre life. Over the last few years, the filling of tyres with nitrogen has increased dramatically in popularity in countries such as Germany and Italy where, almost every tyre shop and garage is equipped with a source of nitrogen, for example, heavy gas cylinders. In Germany, motorists use green valve caps to show they are environmentally aware. Tyre retailers use nitrogen filling as a value-added sales tool.

Nitrogen has for many years been the accepted gas medium for filling the tyres of aircraft, racing cars and heavy mining and construction vehicles and equipment.

Nitrogen is used for safety reasons and to ensure that tyres are always at a constant pressure.

Nitrogen inflation is recommended where there is a risk of explosion; where high pressures are involved; and where there is the risk of electrical discharge.

Compressed air - the traditional medium for inflating car tyres - contains both oxygen (21%) and nitrogen (78%).

The rubber tyre is like a membrane, through which oxygen permeates three times faster than the nitrogen.

The result is that the oxygen slowly leaks out through the rubber walls, and the under-inflation leads to higher tyre wear with a consequent decrease in safety and comfort, and higher fuel costs.

In addition, the water in the compressed air oxidises the rim causing it to corrode.
Nitrogen, which is dry, can make a difference to the tyre wear out.

Tyre Selection To select the appropriate tyre for your car, it is necessary to look up the tire type and size in accordance with the car manufacturer’s manual. It is also necessary to review the driving conditions for the tire, as to select the best choice for your needs. Tips for tyre selection All tyres should be of the same size, brand, tread pattern. If a mixture is unavoidable, then seek professional guidance. Either radial or bias tyres are to be fitted. Avoid using tires with different aspect ratios on the same vehicle. If it is necessary, the lower aspect ratio tires should be put on the rear axle. Check tyres for out of the norm drives, as to ensure the appropriate pattern is selected for the targeted driving conditions – desert cruise, long distance travel in a hot country, rainy conditions, heavy load transportation etc.. For desert cruising Rib pattern is recommendable.

For bias tyres ensure that:-

• The tube selected is of the same size as the tyre.
• A new tube is fitted with a replacement tyre.
• The tube valve matches the tire classification and rim type.
• The valve cap is used.

The tube is to be replaced on the slight evidence of ware out or damage.

Speed guidelines

It is advisable to know the tire’s maximum permissible speed. For a general guideline please refer to the speed symbol table:

Passenger Cars

Bias tyres – Standard and Snow

Rim 12”                            maximum speed is 140 Km / H
Rim 13” and above            maximum speed is 150 Km / H

Radial Tyres (Standard) All Season

S      speed rating             maximum speed is 180 Km / H
H      speed rating             maximum speed is 210 Km / H

Radial Tyres (Snow)

S      speed rating             maximum speed is 160 Km / H

The above is not an indication for icy conditions.

Pressure guidelines

To maintain good tyres, and prolong the tyre usage cycle, it is necessary to inflate the tire with proper air pressure. Pressure must be checked periodically, when the tyres are cool, as to get an accurate measure.

• Please refer to the car service manual or tyre manfacturer’s air pressure guide as to ensure the correct
• Inflation pressure.
• Add 3 PSI or 0,3 Kg/squared Cm for high speed driving.
• To prevent air leaks, valve cores and caps must be tightened properly.
• For dual tyres, both must have the same air pressure.

Rotation guidelines

As the tyres wear out differently accordingly to the road surface, number of passengers, and load, it is advisable to rotate the tyres every 5,000 km, and 7,500 – 10,000 km for Radial tyres as to obtain even wear and longer tread life.

Tyre cleaning guidelines

Mud or soil can deteriorate the tire sidewall compound; therefore, it is recommendable to clean the tires when the sidewalls are dirty. Tires must be checked frequently to remove trapped stones from the grooves. Stones, trapped in the grooves for a long time may crack the grooves.

Tyre load guidelines

Overloading can be costly and unsafe due to abnormal flexing of the tire. Over loading can cause over-heating, cord breakage and ply or tread separation problems that lead to an uneven wear and shorter tread life.

Wheel balance guidelines

Vibration is a result of unbalanced tires or wheels (rims). Both static and dynamic tyre balances for passenger cars are important for smooth driving. It is essential to balance the tyres every 10,000 Km.

Alignment guidelines

Incorrect toe in and out can cause wear, tear, worn groove edge and a feather wear appearance.

Improper camber causes irregular wear and will result in unequal tire wear out.
Improper caster causes irregular wear and worn spots, resulting in one side of the tire becoming slippery.

Driving with care

It is best to avoid driving over obstructions, sharp objects, and holes, as rough surfaces will cause tires to be worn or chipped. If there is no way to avoid such obstacles, then it is necessary to reduce driving speed.

Wet roads produce hydroplaning between the road surface and tyre tread. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the speed in order to maintain control over the vehicle.

Sudden starts and stops reduce the life of the tyre tread.

Sudden fast cornering will cause abnormal wear on the tyre shoulder

Be smart play your PART Proper tire care is simple and easy. It is recommended that you get into the habit of taking five minutes each month to check the following on your tires . Pressure Alignment Rotation Tread