Summer is the perfect time to take your car in for wheel alignment and balancing. Heat can cause the rubber on your tyres to expand, leading to poor tyre performance and increased fuel consumption. 

Driving on misaligned or unbalanced wheels can also damage your car’s suspension system. 

By taking your car in for a wheel alignment and balancing  check every 6 months, you can help to ensure that your tyres are performing at their best and that your car is running as efficiently as possibl

The summer season brings with it many challenges. The extreme climate takes its toll not just on humans but on machines too. Every machine is a complex system affected by intense and excruciating climate and neglect. 

Every machine part needs constant supervision. Similarly cars and its mechanical parts must be given due care. Proper maintenance, oil changes, repairs, AC inspection, and tests are a must for cars at regular intervals. 

But what about your car tyres? It is quite unfortunate that many see the car tyres as a separate entity from the car, and do not give enough care to them. 

It is only when the tyre gives away or causes any sort of trouble to the smooth running of the car that one realizes the mistake. The constant neglect can affect the health of your car too in the long run. 

Wheel balancing and wheel alignment are extremely  important services. But there are other important care and maintenance rules too, especially during the summer season that can help your tyres get a long and healthy life.

Here are some important tips for taking proper care of your car tyres in the summer-

Maintain proper tyre pressure

You must be aware that there is a recommended tyre pressure for a car. This varies between the make of the car, and of course the capacity of the car too. 

This recommended pressure is displayed as instruction in every car or the car manual. There is a normal recommended pressure and also one when the vehicle is carrying more load. 

Tyre pressure is a very important aspect in deciding the life and health of a tyre. 

In summers, the tyre tends to expand due to the heat. Overinflation can cause damage to the tyre and the vehicle too. Both low pressure and high pressure in a car can be damaging. It is important to check air pressure once a month.

Conduct naked-eye inspections

Tyres are among the most used parts of the car. Tyres take the most hit when a car is used regularly. 

Long drives, damaged roads, varied terrains, and intense heat can damage the tyres more quickly than one can imagine. 

It is important that at regular intervals we do a manual naked-eye inspection to assess the state of the tyres. 

The following things can be noted during such inspections-

• Low tyre pressure
• State of the tyre treads- whether they have started to wear out
• Whether the inner linings of the tyres are visible
•  Any side cuts on the tyre

If the tyre treads have started to wear out below 1.6mm, if the inner linings have started to show, or if there are any visible side cuts, bulges, etc, on the tyre, you should immediately replace or repair the tyres.

Spare tyre maintenance

A spare tyre comes in handy in an emergency. Nobody likes to get a flat tyre in the middle of nowhere or on a busy day. 

The summer season often tends to damage the tyres more than any other time due to the excess heat. It is all the more important that we have a spare tyre ready and in good health for such situations. 

Ensure proper pressure is maintained in the spare tyre as well. When inspecting the running tyres for damage, inspect the spare tyre too.

Wheel balancing and wheel alignment

Wheel balancing and wheel alignment ensure a better and longer life for your tyres and allied parts. It also ensures the car runs smoothly and reduces the chances of any mishaps due to the uneven balance, especially during turns, long rides, etc.

If the wheels are not balanced, one side of the wheel can be heavier than the other. This leads to vibrations when the wheel rotates.

Wheel alignment is connected to the suspension of the car. Wheel alignment or tracking maintains the wheels properly directed and at the perfect angle. 

It ensures they are perpendicular when compared to the surface and parallel to each other. This ensures that there are no uneven or unexpected movements that may lead to any accidents.

Wheel alignment and wheel balancing give a healthy life to the tyres. These procedures need to be done when getting a new set of tyres, and also at every 8000 kilometers.

Tyre rotation

As per the instructions given in your manual or as directed by the manufacturer the tyres need rotation approximately every 10000 kilometers. 

This is done to even out the tyre wear. All tyres are exposed to different conditions when the car is in motion. 

Due to the uneven terrain, over-exposure to heat in the summers,  different road conditions, and the different driving habits, each car tyre goes through different stages of wear. To even this out tyres need to be rotated between different wheels. 

This ensures each tyre gives maximum life and minimal damage to the car overall.
Summers can be severe, especially in Middle-Eastern countries. The wear and tear to your tyres can be minimized if proper care is taken and changing your driving habits. 

Going through regular wheel alignment and wheel balancing schedules, proper inspection and disciplined driving can help extend the life of the tyres and also reduce damages and irregular and constant servicing needs for your car.

In conclusion, it is important to have your wheels balanced and aligned on a regular basis. Not only will this improve the overall performance of your vehicle, but it will also help to extend the life of your tires. 

If you are in need of wheel balancing or alignment services, be sure to visit a trusted automotive shop in your area.

Reach out to AutoFix or walk into any of our car engine repair stations in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah for all your car maintenance and service requirements. 

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