Tires ready to go?
We have holidays ahead of us, and with them the long-awaited holidays, long and short trips, family trips. When planning a trip by car, you should take care of its technical condition, equipment and, above all, tires, on which the safety and driving comfort depend.
There is no need to convince anyone that security is worth investing in. Especially during the holiday season when 
us long journeys, in high temperatures, with family and luggage. Before a planned trip by car, it is good to visit a diagnostician, check the mandatory equipment of the car (a first aid kit, a reflective vest, a jack, a set of keys and a tow rope), but first of all, take care of the condition of the tires. “Tires are responsible for keeping the car in contact with the road, they ensure the correct operation of the ABS and traction control systems,” says Arthur Pochtovy, manager of ITR SA, distributor of Japanese Yokohama tires. “Therefore, their quality has a key impact on driving safety as well as fuel consumption, which is also important when traveling on holiday.”
Winter tire wardrobe
Traveling in the summer months, when the air temperature is high and the pavement is warm, is different from traveling in autumn or winter. So it is worth having summer tires on wheels instead of universal or winter tires (many drivers often forget to change them after winter). According to Yokohama experts, winter tires are dangerous and unprofitable in summer. Winter tires are made from a different type of compound that gets very hot when exposed to heat, resulting in rapid and uneven wear.
Correct load and speed indices
The right tires mean not only the right size, but also the right speed and load capacity. The first determines the maximum speed that we are allowed to develop while driving, the second determines the maximum allowable load on the car. This is especially important when we take bicycles, an extra roof rack or heavy luggage on holiday.
Protector technical condition
Tire wear is unavoidable, so to feel safe, check their current condition, assess the degree of tread wear and possible damage. If the tread groove is less than 3 mm, it is recommended to replace the tires. If its depth is less than 1,6 mm, according to the regulations, tire replacement is mandatory. Tires should be inspected for possible damage such as bulges, blisters or scratches. Side cracks on the sides of a tire are extremely dangerous. If they occur, the tire should be replaced immediately.
Tire pressure
You should also check your tire pressure before driving. This directly affects driving safety and fuel consumption. Too low pressure increases rolling resistance, which requires more engine power to propel the vehicle. This results in higher fuel consumption. The effect of too low pressure is also to increase the stopping distance of the car. A factor that may indicate low tire pressure is slight steering vibrations.
If so, check the pressure with a compressor at gas stations. The pressure value suitable for a given vehicle is indicated in the vehicle book.
