You need to ensure your car tyres are in top condition, and it is crucial if you’re planning for an intensive road trip. Travelling in your car across Australia involves driving long distances between cities and suburbs, which exposes your car tyres to different terrains.
Here are the car safety tips you need to undertake before starting a long trip.
1. Check Your Vehicle’s Wheel for Proper Alignment
It’s always good to visit a car servicing centre and check your vehicle’s wheel alignment before taking any long trip. When the wheel alignment is not proper, it will cause vibration, noise and skidding while driving and result in quicker, uneven wearing on tyres. It can contribute to potential safety issues.
2. Check Your Vehicle’s Tyres for Any Damage
Check your vehicle’s tyres for cracks, cuts, splits, bruises, punctures or other signs of damage or deterioration. Even if there is any minor damage or trivial nicks in the tyre wall, it can cause severe problems later on, particularly when embarking on a long road trip.
If you see any small rocks stuck in the tread, you need to remove them, or they can slowly dig into the tyre and prick it. Also, inspect for nails and glass that may have pricked the tyre.
These may not exhibit any immediate threat, but if you drive continuously, the damage can aggravate, particularly when travelling long distances, resulting in a blown-out or flat tyre.
3. Check Your Vehicle Tyre’s Tread Depth
The tyre’s tread is crucial for proper handling and control of the car, which helps you control your vehicle smoothly in different conditions and helps you to halt faster.
Exhausted tyres can exhibit a severe safety hazard. Thus, before embarking on your trip, make sure you check your car’s tyre tread (as per the legal limit, the tyre tread depth should be at least 1.6mm) with emphasis on the front tyres in a front-drive car and the rear tyres if the vehicle is rear-wheel drive.
4. Check Your Vehicle’s Tyre Pressure
Tyre pressure is vital for safe driving. If the tyres are under-inflated, they will bend more and build up heat, which may cause improper handling and lead to failure, resulting in a safety risk.
Additionally, under-inflated tyres are less fuel-efficient and wear out quicker. Inspect tyre pressure when your tyres are cold, at least three hours once you’ve parked your car.
It is prudent to carry a portable tyre pump with you when you’re going on a long road trip.
5. Plan for Your Long Trip
Proper planning for your trip will help you to journey smoothly and safely. Consider how much distance you plan to travel and what will be the road conditions and climatic conditions where you travel, and accordingly prepare for your road trip.
If you need help in the middle of your expedition, will you get roadside assistance? In the absence of roadside assistance, it may be helpful for you to know how to change a flat tyre yourself.
Make sure your car’s spare tyre is in good condition and maintained well, and your vehicle is in excellent condition for the trip.
Make Sure Your Car Is Ready for The Long Trip!
If you want to perform your car tyre’s wheel alignment or fit brand new tyres, Eagle Tyres can help. We will make sure your car is in excellent condition for the trip.
- You can buy tyres and wheels online or from the Eagle Tyres shop located in Granville, Sydney. Eagle Tyres offer tyres of prominent brands, such as Accelera, Bridgestone, Achilles Radial, BF Goodrich, Falken, Cooper Tires, Dunlop, Good Year, Michelin etc.
- Eagle Tyres also provide attractive wheel packages in Sydney to upgrade your car’s weary wheels.
