Your Guide To Tire Health

Checking the health of your tires is an essential part of vehicle maintenance. As a man, you need to know when it's time to change your tires and how to take good care of them. Here are our top tips on how to do it this effectively: 

Tread Depth: According to AutoPro, "The depth of the treads on your tires can affect your braking, acceleration, and handling. In the UAE, the minimum legal depth for tire treads is 1.6 mm for light vehicles." Never neglect your tread depth; you can quickly check it before driving your car to ensure a safe journey. 

Damage: Always inspect your tires for cuts, bulges, or punctures, as these things can weaken the tire's structural integrity and make them more likely to fail. If you notice any of these issues, have your tires replaced as soon as possible. I don't recommend repairing damaged or deformed tires because they could have structural damage and fail abruptly (and that's one of the worst things that can happen if you're driving at high speeds). For instance, if you find a nail lodged in your tire (and it happens more than you think), you need to bite the bullet and replace it immediately.  

Tire Rotation: AutoPro recommends rotating your tires every 10,000 km to ensure they wear out evenly. This will help extend your tires' lifespan and improve your vehicle's overall performance. Here's a confession: I never did it before, as I always forget about it, but you absolutely should. If you buy four tires from AutoPro, you get free a tire rotation service every 10,000 km (worth 150 Dhs) 

Look for uneven wear: Uneven wear on your tires can indicate issues with your vehicle's alignment or suspension. If you notice that one side of the tire is wearing more quickly than the other, have your car inspected by a mechanic.

Check the tire pressure: The tire pressure should be checked at least once a month and before driving long distances. Underinflated tires can lead to poor fuel economy and uneven wear and cause a blowout. If your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and the warning light is on, check the tire pressure as well. Don't ignore this message, and if your TPMS sensor is malfunctioning, repair it. 

Maximum Lifespan: According to AutoPro, "There is no fixed lifespan for tires. However, it is illegal to keep tires longer than 5 years in the UAE (even if they are unused). The mileage of your tires may be affected by a number of factors, including climate, road conditions." So if you happen to have tires that old, it's about time you replace them. 

Size and Type: When replacing a tire, Nissan recommends using the same size, tread design, speed rating, and load-carrying capacity as originally equipped. Nissan states, "The use of tires other than those recommended or the mixed use of tires of different brands, construction (bias, bias-belted or radial), or tread patterns can adversely affect the ride, braking, handling, VDC system, ground clearance, body-to-tire clearance, tire chain clearance, speedometer calibration, headlight aim and bumper height. Some of these effects may lead to accidents. They could result in serious personal injury." Always consult your car manual to find out what these numbers are. For most light vehicles, the recommended tire pressure is 33 PSI. Also, Nissan recommends that "if your car was originally equipped with 4 tires that were the same size. You are only replacing 2 of the 4 tires, install the new tires on the rear axle. Placing new tires on the front axle may cause loss of vehicle control in some driving conditions and cause an accident and personal injury."

Remember: It's always best to follow your vehicle's manual recommendations as well as the tire manufacturer's recommendations, as they may vary. Safe driving!

Disclaimer: This post is not affiliated with AutoPro or Nissan. 

Sources: 

https://www.autopro.ae/tyres

Nissan Owner's Manual