5 things you can do to make your tyres last longer
28 Aug 2020|10,447 views
No matter how sturdy a manufacturer claims them to be, tyres will eventually wear out and have to be replaced. Do not believe anyone who says your brand of tyre "can last 90,000km". Your driving style and usage patterns directly influence your car's tyre wear rate. Just like fuel economy, your mileage will vary.
For the record, our recommendation on when to change tyres is every three years, 30,000km or when the tread is worn to the treadwear indicators - whichever comes first. Even if your tyres haven't worn out after three years, it is still a good idea to get a new set as the rubber may have hardened. When this happens, there is a risk that cracks may develop.
That said, here are five ways to prolong your tyres' service life.
Rotate your tyres every 5,000km
Rotating your tyres helps them wear evenly over time. If you didn't rotate your tyres, the front ones would probably wear out before the rear ones did. If this happens, you are at risk of an accident, especially in wet weather.
Some tyre shops or car dealerships recommend rotating your tyres every 10,000km. In theory, this is fine. However, the majority of drivers in Singapore go up and down carpark ramps every day. This results in even greater wear on the 'inside' tyres.
This means the right front and rear tyres will wear out faster than the ones of the left. That's because most carparks require us to turn right when ascending and descending.
Rotate your tyres every 5,000km to help mitigate this.
Keep your tyres properly inflated


Under-inflating or over-inflating your tyres is dangerous. If the air pressure is too low, the tyre's 'shoulders' and sidewall will wear out quicker than the rest of the tread.
On the other hand, if the air pressure is too high, the tyre's centre will wear out faster. There is also less grip in this condition. On wet roads, the risk of aquaplaning is very high.
Don't drive over kerbs


It goes without saying that you need to pay attention when manoeuvring in carparks, especially unfamiliar ones. Observe other cars as they drive up or down the ramps and follow their lines if it is safe.
Avoid potholes


Pay attention to the cars in front of you. It's easy to tell when the car in front has hit a pothole. Or if you see the vehicle in front veering slightly left or right, it is possible that the driver is trying to avoid a pothole.
Inspect your tyres regularly


When caught early, the problem can be rectified, and you would have saved yourself from prematurely purchasing a new set of tyres.
*Updated on 30 September 2022
Here are some articles you might be interested in
7 ways to reduce car running costs
How to choose the best tyres for your needs?
When do you need to change your car's tyres?
Are your car's tyres in need of a replacement? Check out these highly recommended rims and tyres shops!
No matter how sturdy a manufacturer claims them to be, tyres will eventually wear out and have to be replaced. Do not believe anyone who says your brand of tyre "can last 90,000km". Your driving style and usage patterns directly influence your car's tyre wear rate. Just like fuel economy, your mileage will vary.
For the record, our recommendation on when to change tyres is every three years, 30,000km or when the tread is worn to the treadwear indicators - whichever comes first. Even if your tyres haven't worn out after three years, it is still a good idea to get a new set as the rubber may have hardened. When this happens, there is a risk that cracks may develop.
That said, here are five ways to prolong your tyres' service life.
Rotate your tyres every 5,000km
Rotating your tyres helps them wear evenly over time. If you didn't rotate your tyres, the front ones would probably wear out before the rear ones did. If this happens, you are at risk of an accident, especially in wet weather.
Some tyre shops or car dealerships recommend rotating your tyres every 10,000km. In theory, this is fine. However, the majority of drivers in Singapore go up and down carpark ramps every day. This results in even greater wear on the 'inside' tyres.
This means the right front and rear tyres will wear out faster than the ones of the left. That's because most carparks require us to turn right when ascending and descending.
Rotate your tyres every 5,000km to help mitigate this.
Keep your tyres properly inflated


Under-inflating or over-inflating your tyres is dangerous. If the air pressure is too low, the tyre's 'shoulders' and sidewall will wear out quicker than the rest of the tread.
On the other hand, if the air pressure is too high, the tyre's centre will wear out faster. There is also less grip in this condition. On wet roads, the risk of aquaplaning is very high.
Don't drive over kerbs


It goes without saying that you need to pay attention when manoeuvring in carparks, especially unfamiliar ones. Observe other cars as they drive up or down the ramps and follow their lines if it is safe.
Avoid potholes


Pay attention to the cars in front of you. It's easy to tell when the car in front has hit a pothole. Or if you see the vehicle in front veering slightly left or right, it is possible that the driver is trying to avoid a pothole.
Inspect your tyres regularly


When caught early, the problem can be rectified, and you would have saved yourself from prematurely purchasing a new set of tyres.
*Updated on 30 September 2022
Here are some articles you might be interested in
7 ways to reduce car running costs
How to choose the best tyres for your needs?
When do you need to change your car's tyres?
Are your car's tyres in need of a replacement? Check out these highly recommended rims and tyres shops!
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