How to maintain your car tyres
 Tyres
are responsible for the safety of your vehicle. They also add
to the look of your car. There are different kinds of tyres
available in the market, for example radial and cross plies.
The difference in the two types of tyres lies in their alignment,
which results in different tread patterns. It is these tread
patterns which determine the performance and quality of the
tyre. It provides road grip, cools the tyres, prevents pebbles,
nails etc., from getting into the tyres, and in wet conditions
acts as a duct for the water to be squeezed out.
 Radials
are recommended for high performance. They provide traction
and with it better control. They are the obvious choice in wet
conditions. Radials at times increase fuel consumption. Cross
plies are cheaper than radials and do not need special attention.
They are mainly for smaller cars. Another variety of tyres which
has recently arrived in India are tubeless tyres. They do not
require tubes, and the air could be pumped directly into the
tyres. Since they are a new arrival in the market, the outer
city 'puncturewallahs' are as yet not skilled enough to fix
the punctures in tubeless tyres.
 According
to Anmol Singh, Anmol Tyres, Mumbai, "Generally
for Indian roads and especially Mumbai's roads, we recommend
radial tyres. Cars wearing radials would make your journey more
comfortable. The nylon tyres or what we call the cross plies
tyres wear out easily. Except for a couple of small cars like,
Maruti 800 and Fiat, all the other cars no matter how big or
small, ride on radial tyres. The structure and the fibre of
the radial tyres last long and make driving more pleasant."
How to maintain your tyres
- Check the air pressure once a week, as low air pressure
leads to more fuel consumption, wear and tear and suspension
problems.
- It is also equally important to maintain correct air
pressure, which can be done at the petrol pumps. But it
is also advised that you carry your own gauge.
- Alignment of the tyres should be checked regularly.
- Rotating of the tyres every 10,000 kms, as stated in
the owner's manual, done on a regular basis, increases the
life of the tyres.
- Air should never be filled when the tyres are hot. Hot
air expands which in turn could give a wrong reading.
- Do not brake or accelerate hard every now and then as
it leads to wear and tear of rubber in the tyres.
By : Sharmistha Chakraborty
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