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S. Muralidhar

OF ALL the parts that literally keep your car or two-wheeler moving, but are least cared for are probably the tyres. In most cases, the only time tyres get the attention is when they go flat or bald. And, yet, they are critical in determining the quality of the ride — safety and comfort level — and even its longevity.

As was demonstrated by the Firestone - Ford Explorer controversy in the US, tyres can be crucial in determining the inherent safety of a vehicle.

This two-part column attempts to re-emphasise the importance of regular tyre maintenance and offer tips to keep your luggers shipshape.

Today's automotive tyres are technological marvels. From performing the role of bare wheels, they now support high-speed travel, off-roading, high levels of safety and stability even in the event of a puncture and are designed to minimise damage in case of an accident. However, regular maintenance and care are essential to get the best out of your tyres.

First, a radial tyre is definitely safer than the traditional bias ply tyre. As far as car tyres go, a radial offers far too many advantages to be ignored — safety being the most prominent one , as also higher comfort levels and tread-life. .

In a radial tyre, the ply cords, essentially layers of fabric which make up the inner body of the tyre, run straight and across the tyre from bead to bead. A bias ply tyre, on the other hand, has the ply cords running diagonally across the tyre from bead to bead, with the ply layers alternating in direction. Radials may also come with steel belts, which are intended to offer higher strength and whose speed rating is usually higher.

If you are driving any of the new-generation cars, chances are you are already on radials. Most variants of even the entry level Maruti 800 now come with radials as standard fitment. If you are driving any of the older passenger cars (the Ambassadors and the Premier Padminis) and plan to continue driving them, in the interest of safety, it makes sense to check out the market for suitable-sized radials.

Radials have better heat tolerance and their higher strength means that managing the vehicle in the event of a puncture is easier and safer. Bias ply tyres are incapable of supporting higher speeds. The safety and stability of a vehicle are at risk usually at speeds of over 100 km per hour. This is especially the case during long trips, when tyres get extremely heated. With an increase in the number of concretised roads, overheating can cause havoc, if the tyres are not designed to take such conditions. The number of accidents on the Mumbai-Pune expressway is a case in point; many of these are because of the use of bias ply tyres, which increases the incidence of tyre bursts. If the construction of the golden quadrilateral gets completed, or you plan to hit that long-winding neighbourhood road anytime soon, be sure to switch to radials.

That said, the most important maintenance requirement for your tyres is proper inflation. Both under- and over-inflation can lead to excessive and accelerated tyre wear.

Under-inflation leads to increase wear on the edges of the tyre. So, if your tyres' shoulders are more worn than the middle tread, then it almost always means that you have been driving around with under-inflated tyres. On the other hand, if the tyre's tread in the middle is more worn, over-inflation would be the reason.

Under-inflation can be a big drain on your pocket. It dramatically reduces the tread life of the tyre due to accelerated wear on the outside of the tyre, increases heat build up and can even damage your car's suspension, especially on bumpy Indian roads. Further, the higher rolling resistance caused by under-inflation can reduce fuel economy by as much as 25 per cent.

Check your tyres often to ensure that they are maintained at the right pressure.

Depending on usage, tyres can lose up to 30-40 per cent of their pressure in a month. So, checking them at least once a month, and more often during summer, is advised. What most manufacturers recommend is the pressure level when the tyres are cold. So, it makes sense to keep a pressure gauge handy. If you have to check the tyre pressure midway through a journey or when the tyre is warm, add 10 per cent to the manufacturer recommended cold tyre pressure to get a more accurate reading.

(To be concluded)

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