TYRE MAINTENANCE & OTHER TYRE CARE TIPS
Determining tyre pressure
Maintain the pressure!
- When inflated to the correct pressure, your tyres will give you better safety, better mileage and optimum fuel consumption.
- Check the pressure when tyres are cold (on tyres that have not been used for at least two hours or have been driven for less than 3 km at reduced speed). If the tyres are hot when they are checked (if you have driven during the past two hours or covered several kilometres at low speed), add 0.3 bar to the recommended pressure.
- Never deflate hot tyres. To improve your safety, save money and increase the lifetime of your tyres, check the pressure!
- If you are using the motorway or carrying heavy loads, remember to change the pressure, according to the manufacturers' recommendations (User Manual, pressure label).
- Tyre pressures must be checked at least once a month or before every long journey.
- Remember to check the spare tyre!
- To avoid the pitfalls of driving with under-inflated tyres, detect any problems before it is too late. The correct pressure is that stipulated jointly by the tyre and vehicle manufacturers. These indications are to be found in the User Manual for the vehicle or on a label affixed to the vehicle (door jamb / fuel cover flap / glovebox etc.).
- Inflation with nitrogen does not dispense with the need to check tyre pressures frequently.
If you have a tyre puncture
Punctures always happen at the worst possible moment! But by taking a few precautions, you can make the incident a little less of a nuisance.
A puncture is always an ordeal for a driver. Here are a few pieces of advice to make life easier in this event:
- Always have a pair of gloves in the boot.
- Also carry a large rubbish bag to put the flat tyre in, particularly if it is covered in mud!
- Provide a small board to prevent the jack from sinking if the surface under the vehicle is too soft.
- Oil the thread very lightly to make it easier to remove the wheel nuts.
- Never drive too fast with the spare wheel mounted. It might not be inflated to the correct pressure, which will decrease road holding.
- Make sure to tighten the wheel nuts properly. Incorrect tightening could lead to the brake discs warping, and damage the wheel mounting system. Correct tightening also makes it easier to remove the wheel again!
- For uniform, perfect tightening, it is advisable to use a torque wrench. This tool enables you to regulate the force used in tightening the wheel nuts. Otherwise, go to the nearest dealership to get your tyres checked.
- After repair and refitting, get the wheel balanced.
When to replace a tyre
Regularly checking your tyres for wear helps you ensure your safety on the road. CAUTION: Don't wait for a puncture before changing your tyres!
Driving with worn tyres on a wet road amplifies the loss of grip, and increases braking distances and the risk of aquaplaning.
How to regularly check on tyre wear.
Check the wear indicators in the middle of the tread (the part of the tyre in contact with the ground). When the height of the wear indicator rubber reaches this mark, the tyre has reached the legal wear limit of 1.6 mm. When reaching this limit and replacing your tyre, don’t forget to recycle the old tyres via sending them back to your dealer.
In some countries with specific winter legislation, the minimum tread required on winter tyres may be different. Check that you are in line with the legislation in force in the country you are visiting.
There are, however, other situations where the replacement of tyres is necessary, or even mandatory:
- If after a puncture, the specialist detects a deterioration.
- If the tyre does not comply with the equipment recommendations for the vehicle: incorrect size, speed rating lower than that specified by the manufacturer, load index lower than that specified by the manufacturer, incorrect category (passenger / van).
- If it shows localised abnormal wear.
- If it shows signs of ageing.
- If it has cuts or deformations likely to compromise safety.
In case of doubt, please contact your KLEBER dealer, who will be happy to advise you.
Summer tyres, winter tyres and all-season tyres: choose the right tyres to drive safely.