Tyres

Tyres provide a vital link with the road, one that properly maintained gives us the ability to steer, brake, corner and accelerate.They also help determine the fuel economy we value so highly, but most importantly they keep us out of trouble.The best things about checking and maintaining the inflation pressure is that it is easy and it's free.Every service station has a pump you can use to both check and inflate your tyres. It's easy to use, it can be done in a minute or two, and there's no charge.The pump is usually located away from the petrol pumps so you won't delay anyone else while you do it, and it usually has signs to allow you to identify it.If you're not sure ask the service station attendant.Tyre retailers also have pumps and they're usually happy to let you check your tyre pressures, and for a smile they might even do it for you.Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month, and the best time to do it is when the tyres are cold. That's in the morning before you motor out of your driveway.Checking the pressures cold gives you the most accurate reading of the inflation pressures; the pressures will climb as the tyres warm up and you'll then get an incorrect reading.If you can't check the pressures before you drive away head to the nearest service station and do it there.The recommended inflation pressures are displayed on a sticker attached to your car's body.It's usually in the driver's door opening, but could also be inside the fuel filler cap, or on the inside of the glove box lid.If you're not sure the pressures are also shown in the owner's manual.The inflation pressures given are the cold settings and they are usually shown in metric kPa or the equivalent imperial psi.Pressures are given for normal driving and also for when you've got a load in the boot or when travelling at high speed.The recommended pressures are a compromise designed to achieve the best combination of safety, comfort, handling and braking, and fuel economy.Deviating from those recommendations will affect one or more of those things, so carefully consider the consequences before deciding to set your inflation pressures higher or lower.Setting the pressure a little higher can result in improved fuel economy and handling, but can make your car ride less comfortably.After locating the pump at your service station, check to see what the displayed pressure setting is and reset it to the pressure recommended for your car.Remove the dust caps from the valves on your tyres and slip the hose fitting over the valve stem and release the clasp so that it attaches to the stem.The pump will automatically adjust the pressure to the level you have set and an audible signal will tell you when it has reached that pressure.Release the clasp and remove the hose from the valve stem and move on to the next tyre.Also check the spare in the boot so it's correctly inflated and ready to use if you need it.After you've checked each tyre remember to replace the dust caps, they're there to keep dust from getting under the valve and causing a leak.Service station gauges can generally be relied on, but they are subject to misuse and abuse, and they can vary from station to station.Check the hose and end fitting that attaches to the valve stem and don't use it if you find any damage. Instead report the damage to the attendant.The best way to ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure is to check them with your own gauge.They're inexpensive and can be carried in the glove box, and that way you will be better equipped to maintain the inflation pressure to a more consistent level.If you choose to have your own gauge, take it to a tyre retailer and have it checked for accuracy against the retailer's gauge before you use it.Don't just stand there while the tyre pump is doing its thing, it's a good time to get down and inspect your tyres for wear or damage to the tread or sidewall.

Rubber has been almost eliminated from the rubber that keeps your car on the road.These days it's all about special polymers and petrochemicals, according to one of the top men at Pirelli."Rubber is like wine. There are different regions, different vintages," says Paul Hembery, who also heads Pirelli's grand prix program."There is good wine and not-so-good wine. It's the same with rubber. So it's too unstable and variable."Apart from F1 and GT racing, Pirelli provides tyres for most of the world's supercars, including the LaFerrari and McLaren P1, where Hembery says racing experience helps to speed development and cope with the extraordinary demands of modern motoring.Developing a new tyre takes two to three years"Those cars are out of this world. They have 1000 horsepower, which is more than a Formula One car. But even relatively modest cars now require a lot more development on things like wet-weather grip and noise control," he says."Developing a new tyre takes two to three years. So that's a type of race in itself."Volkswagen Group is the biggest road-tyre customer for Pirelli, which did about 500 different new-tyre certifications last year for new models. Audi is the biggest individual buyer.Looking ahead, Hembery says Pirelli is working hard to develop a computer simulation that will allow shoppers to do a "virtual test" of potential tyre choices for their car."It's simple to test drive different cars you're thinking about buying. Tyres are much tougher. But we're working hard on a system that will give realistic feedback," he says."Right now, it's like buying a washing machine. You don't get the chance for a back-to-back test and so you have to rely on someone else's advice. You never know if you're getting what you want."We want to remove that uncertainty and help people make the right choice."

In the Q&A section there was a query from a reader trying to find a car with a traditional spare. I'm on my third Nissan Patrol in 31 years and recall my last flat tyre was at least 18 years ago so I have been carrying a complete spare, and often a spare casing, for nothing other than peace of mind. Before going out on rougher than normal roads I always ensure the rubber is in good condition and pressures are correct for the surface being encountered. I realise that cars with lower profiles may suffer more problems, like the late-model Ford Territory on the Birdsville Track last year that had one tyre ruined, while another was punctured.

Talking about spare tyres, I owned a Mitsubishi Outlander V6 4WD that we loved but sold because it did not have a full-size spare. We got a Mitsubishi Pajero with a full-size spare wheel. In my experience of travelling off-road regularly, anyone planning to do so needs to think very carefully about the spares. Most flat tyres off-road have a split sidewall and no repair kit can fix that. Your car club or assistance provider will not be able to bring you a new tyre and fix it to your rim if that happens to have escaped damage. Further, your full-size punctured wheel will not fit into the well for your space-saver. Imagine that with three kids on holiday full with luggage.

My 2006 Ford Transit van is chewing out the inside of the front tyres. At first it was only the driver's side, so I had a wheel alignment done, but now the passenger side is also doing it. The tyres have almost full tread, but they’re bald on the inner shoulders, rendering them useless. This is going to be ridiculously expensive if this continues, so any advice would be much appreciated.

It is frustrating shopping for an upmarket car to drive long isolated trips when they do not supply a decent spare wheel. Would it be too difficult to make wheel wells larger and offer a full-sized spare as an option? I'd not contemplate trips such as crossing the Nullarbor without a decent spare.

Re using the tyre pressure placard rather than the tyre dealer's recommendation. My daughter is about to do a defensive driving course and they insist the tyre pressure should be 40psi so what are your thoughts? They don't even know which car she will be driving, which is a 2011 Toyota Corolla.

I'd like clarification as to the correct tyre pressure for my 2014 Jeep Cherokee. The plate on the door sill lists 33 psi as the recommended pressure. However when I recently had a puncture repaired the tyre dealer said they should be 38 psi. The tyres are 225x55 R18 and it's rarely used for any off-road travel. What pressure should I be using?

I recently dropped my 2012 Falcon off at my dealership to get two worn-out tyres replaced. The dealer advised me that they would put the old pair on the rear and the new pair on the front. I am very sure that having worn-out tyres at the back will compromise stability, traction and can cause loss of control. Can you please shed some light about this issue?

Tyre fitters across Australia will wear pink this Friday to raise money for the McGrath Foundation breast cancer charity.