Many motorists either don’t know how to get the best service out of tyres or don’t take the time and effort to make it happen, it is important that they be educated on how to maintain and care for their tyres. This is true for all tyre constructions whether they are radial or bias tyres. Specific areas where customer education is recommended are as follows:

Radial – feel of the road

Most motorists have either owned radials or are familiar with them through the experience of others. However, first time radial buyers should be told to expect a new feel on the road, a feeling of firmness at slower speeds. This is characteristics of radials because of the stiffer belts. This firmer feel of the road and faster steering response becomes an asset at street and highway speeds, adding to the performance characteristics that make radials so popular.

Inflation

When properly inflated and under load, a radial tyre has a distinctive bulge in the sidewall. This is normal for radials, but makes it very difficult to judge visually whether or not a radial tyre is properly inflated. Customers should be cautioned not to add air to make a radial tyre look as inflated as a bias ply tyre.

However, they should not be misled into accepting almost any degree of bulge as being normal. The only way to be sure a radial tyre is inflated correctly is to check tyre pressure regularly with a reliable gauge, following the vehicles manufacturers specification or after consulting a tyre professional. For futher information on this subject go through the “importance of checking air pressure”.

Rotation

Tyres should be inspected periodically to determine overall wear and any irregular wear pattern development. Rotating tyres as per the recommendations of a tyre professional can often deliver more uniform tyre wear and longer tyre life. For futher information on this subject go through the “tyre rotation” chart.

Balancing

A balanced tyre, while improving riding comfort, also lowers the constant change in the tyre load (due to bounce). The constant bouncing of tyres leads to wear of steering and suspension parts, as would worn shocks, and could lead to misalignment conditions. A majority of vibration complaints are a result of improper balance. For futher information on this subject go through the “balancing & its terminology” chart.

Alignment

Proper alignment is mandatory for even tread wear and precise steering. The moderate cost of a front-end alignment can more than pay for itself in tyre mileage, performance and comfort. The customer should be advised to check front tyres periodically for uneven wear or changes in handling or steering response, which indicate misalignment. For futher information on this subject go through the “alignment & its terminology “ chart.