Pre-winter inspection
Properly winterizing your car is important for both safety and driver comfort.
“The main issue is, of course, the replacement of winter tires, the advantages of which most drivers have already seen in previous seasons,” says Tomasz Schromnik, owner of CNF Rapidex, which specializes in complex wheel and tire repairs. However, few vehicle owners remember to check the condition of the tires and their degree of wear. Winter tires should not be used for more than 5 years. In the future, the quality of rubber decreases, due to which it loses its properties. It is best to leave the assessment of the condition of the tires to specialists.
Wheel rims should also be inspected and inspected. In winter, many vehicle owners use attractive alloy wheels.
– The aluminum rim is not suitable for use in winter conditions, explains Tomasz Šromnik. – It is susceptible to damage, mainly due to the possibility of skidding the car and, for example, hitting a curb. The cost of repairing an aluminum rim is quite high. Another important issue is the possibility of damage to the rim from chemicals, mainly salt, which are sprinkled on roads in winter. The paint coating on an aluminum rim is not very resistant to this kind of attack and there are no products on the market that can effectively protect the rim. So I would advise using steel rims in winter, which are more resistant to chemicals, and repair costs are much lower.
Checking the condition of wheels and tires, however, is only a small percentage of the overall inspection of the car, which is why we have launched a service station in our company, thanks to which we are able to comprehensively check the car and make quick repairs - added Tomasz Šromnik.
Tire storage
Tomasz Schromnik, owner of CNF Rapidex
– When it comes to changing seasonal tyres, we should also mention the appropriate storage conditions, which have a big impact on their further operation. Storage in a damp and cramped room, especially for a long time, for example, several years, makes the subsequent usefulness of such a tire negligible. Before buying tires, I advise you to check the production date, which is stamped on the side of the tire. The first two digits indicate the production week, the next two years. I do not recommend buying tires older than five years. I recommend checking the production date, especially for all kinds of attractive promotions. When it comes to tire storage, many companies offer such a service.
Photo by Robert Quiatek
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