Incorrect tyre pressures are a major fuel waster…
Weekly vehicle checks
Once a week you should check the following items:
Engine oil level
Engine coolant level
Brake, clutch and steering fluid levels
Screen-wash level
Battery electrolyte level*
Fan belt tension
Wiper blade condition
*Most batteries are now ‘sealed for life’ and do not require checking.
If you are unsure about how to carry out these checks you should consult your vehicle handbook or local garage.
Tyres
The small footprint of each tyre is all that is holding you on the road. Damaged or wrongly inflated tyres will simply let go in an emergency…
You should make a detailed inspection of your tyres once a week to make sure that you stay legal (fines of up to £2,500 per wheel), stay roadworthy (tyres are a major MOT fail item – source Kwik Fit survey) and stay safe.
Incorrect tyre pressures are a major fuel waster!
Keeping your tyre pressures within the manufacturers recommended range will help save fuel, maximise braking efficiency and affect handling. Check tyres when they are cold.
Tyres must be the correct type for the vehicle (speed rating, etc.) and free from cuts and bulges. The minimum tread depth for tyres is 1.6 millimetres across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around the whole circumference. your tyres have rectangular wear indicators within the tyre (running across the tread); when the indicators are level with the tread it’s time to replace the tyre.
Front tyres will often wear quicker than rear tyres but tyres on the same axle should wear evenly; if opposite tyres wear unevenly, or a single tyre wears on one edge, you have problems…
If you are unsure about your tyres, consult a tyre specialist.
