While driving in the rainy season, have you ever felt that you are losing control over your vehicle or it has suddenly started skidding? Such situations most likely occur because of hydroplaning.
Check out the tips that help you understand, handle or avoid hydroplaning-like situations.
Did you know? A recent survey by the road ministry found that accidents caused due to tyre bursts killed 3,371 people. Tyre damages have led to many fatal accidents. In fact, tyre burst is one of the most common types of tyre damage. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that for every accident caused due to the vehicle itself, tyre-related problems contribute to about 35%. Simply put, there are mainly 5 common types of tyre damage.
Surely you must have seen people break a sweat while replacing their vehicle’s tyre. Especially when it gets damaged while you are travelling, it can get highly taxing to fix it right away and continue your journey, and that’s why tyre care is important. So, how do we tackle these tyre-health-related problems? Being mindful of the causes of tyre damage is bound to help you prevent it. But before getting to know the reasons, let’s first understand the types of tyre damage and how our tyre care app helps significantly to improve tyre health.
Tyre Damage Due To Punctures
Punctures are one of the most understandable types of tyre damage in India. A puncture is mainly caused due to piercing of sharp objects into the tyre. However, there could be many other reasons for this as well For instance, bad road conditions like potholes with sharp edges placed in the path. Other possible issues are edged nails and pierced glass.
When sharp objects stab the outer layer of the tyre, that opens the outlet to air inside—this loss of air results in poor steering and handling. Also note, in extreme cases, accelerating your vehicle after a tyre puncture may lead to complete tyre failure. So while driving, if you suspect vehicle handling is being disturbed, stop your vehicle as soon as possible and check your tyre. If punctured, get it fixed or replaced immediately, based on the severity of the puncture. And, if you are driving a car, be sure to have a safety tyre whenever you hit the road.
Tyre Cracks
Tyre cracks usually are visible to the naked eye. The range of thickness of a crack can go over a centimetre or sometimes may even be less than a millimetre. However, to ensure your safety, changing the tyre whenever it is easily visible to the eye is advisable. Minor cracks are often caused due to the usage of the tyre for a longer time. Even though these cracks may not be dangerous initially, they can eventually grow into major cracks. Major cracks, in most cases, are caused due to driving on poor roads and even excessive exposure to UV rays.
Sidewall Damage
The purpose of the tyre’s sidewall is to handle the excess tyre stress. There are mainly two types of tyre damage faced by the sidewall – bulges and cuts. Bulges take place due to sudden impact on a tyre. For instance, if you are driving into a kerb or moving on the speed breaker at high speed. This makes the tyre air pressure rush and creates a bulge.
On the other hand, cuts are also formed due to impact, but they are more severe than bulges. If there is a major cut, it can lead to a tyre burst. It’s important to note that having a damaged sidewall is extremely risky as it directly impacts the tyre’s structure.
Uneven Tyre Wear
tyre travels a long distance or is unchanged for a long time, it has uneven tyre wear. This wear and tear often results in incorrect inflation pressure or misalignment of the wheels. The most common types of uneven tyre wear are heel and toe, centre, and one-side tyre wear.
Heel and toe wear are most commonly seen and are caused due to using the same tyre for a more extended period – 6 to 10 years specifically. Centre wear can be seen when the tyre’s centre tread wears out more than the sides. This problem is mainly faced when the tyre is overinflated. One-sided tyre wear is when one side of the tyre wears out more than the other, which often leads to wheel misalignment. Such worn-out tyres provide a loose grip, so it’s best to replace them whenever they are worn out.
Tyre Burst
Underinflation is the most common cause of tyre bursts. Studies suggest that underinflation is the reason behind approximately 75% of tyre bursts. They happen due to the tyre’s inability to hold air, leading to structural integrity Simply put, poor tyre pressure causes your vehicle’s tyre to burst.
Here is something that may interest you. Maintaining optimal tyre pressure can be a no-brainer. You will get to know about it soon. But first, let us look at some essential tyre care tips by Mr. TREEL that you can be mindful of in everyday life.
- Avoid sudden braking when on the road.
- Keep an eye on the wheel alignment of your vehicle.
- Replace old tyres whenever needed to ensure proper tyre rotation.
- And one last practice, probably the most important one for your tyre’s good health —maintain optimal air pressure.