The tire function is to sustain the vehicle’s weight, to transmit the traction and braking force, and to aid the steering.
It also works as a road surface shock absorber.
The tire life length, in general, depends a lot on the conservation state, so there’s no expiration date. However, if the tread groove depth limit of 1.6 mm is reached, there is evident wear on the tire and replacement is therefore legally mandatory.
However, FederPneus and top tire producers, such as Michelin and Pirelli, suggest changing them 10 years after the production date.
For this purpose, to verify the construction period you need to refer to the tire DOT: a wording in which the last 4 digits indicate precisely the week and year of production.
The tire is structured in different parts such as: the tread, which is in contact with the road, with a medium depth of 8mm, the sides divided inside and outer, on which are indicated the tire info, the shell which is the internal part, composed with multiple layers of rubberized canvases that constitute the tire skeleton, and it helps the transmission of all the load forces between the wheel and the ground, ensuring resistance to the inflation pressure.
There are different types of tires on the market including, for example, winter, summer and all-season tires, and radial tires.
Seasonal tires answer better to weather and road conditions in the respective seasons. For example, the winter tires’ blend is softer and more elastic to low temperatures to guarantee a good grip on the road surface.
In a lot of Italian Regions, there is the obligation of winter tires. You can find out HERE why and when you have to do the winter change and HERE why and when the summer change.
Radial tires, on the other hand, have the shell’s layers arranged in a radial pattern to the front axle and have steel wires in the tire's internal structure mounted obliquely and crisscrossed. This is to give greater flexibility, elasticity on the sidewalls, and rigidity to the tread, all for greater grip on the ground, even at high speeds.
A good grip on the asphalt, driving safety, better performance and fuel saving: are the top reasons why to care for and maintain the tire.
Here are some bits of advice on how to maintain car tires in a good state.
The first and most basic of the tire conservation methods is the visual inspection, which can be carried out by the owner of the vehicle, or in any case by the user, through an external examination of both the tread and the sidewall of the tire to detect the presence of any tears, cracks, cuts and/or bulges.
Another best practice for tire conservation is periodically checking tire pressure when cold.
The ideal tire pressure is specified in the car manual or it is specified on the car door. The pressure must be maintained at this level, as expressly indicated by the manufacturer.
We remind you that if the pressure is higher than indicated, it can cause wear on the central part of the tread; if it is lower, however, wear occurs on the external part of the tire.
The check is to be carried out, in principle, monthly but it is advisable in particular if we are returning from a long journey or need to prepare for it, or even in the case of prolonged inactivity of the vehicle.
Attention must also be paid to damage to the valves which can cause a loss of pressure and therefore deflation of the tires.
If you have a spare wheel, it is essential to also check its pressure in case the need to use it arises.
Currently, it is also possible to inflate tires with nitrogen.
Nitrogen does not favor humidity and combustion, therefore it reduces pressure variations and the risk of explosion (more details here).
For some types of tires, with heavy wear on very heavy vehicles, this can be a very useful remedy.
Generally speaking, for urban journeys of not particularly heavy vehicles, normal compressed air inflation is more than adequate.
In the end, there are also run-flat tires, with reinforced sides that support the weight of the vehicle and allow easy driving on the road, even after a loss of pressure following a puncture.
A useful practice for preserving the tire for longer is also to rotate it on the vehicle, thus passing the rear tires in the front area, which are generally the least worn ones, and the front ones in the rear area. This is generally recommended every 10,000 km but it is always better to consult your tire dealer.
It is necessary to have regard to the type of tread design:
for asymmetric and directional treads, the positions specified on them must generally be maintained; in fact, on the asymmetric ones the side to be mounted externally is indicated, while the directional ones must be mounted according to the direction of travel indicated by the arrow on the tread pattern.
In the case of symmetrical treads, however, the positions can be crossed, but it will also be necessary to take into account the type of transmission system of the vehicle; for this reason, it is good practice to be assisted by professionals in the procedure.
In all cases, however, the tires to be reversed must have the same dimensions between the front and rear.
Another useful action to keep car tires in good condition is checking the convergence of the wheels, that is adjusting the angles so that they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. This is because if the setup is not calibrated, it can cause the vehicle to vibrate or not directly according to the driving direction given by the steering wheel.
A check can be made regarding the convergence of the wheels, paying attention to checking if the vehicle pulls to one side instead of going straight when straight. If in doubt, our advice is to rely on a trusted tire dealer for the evaluation.
The wheel balancing purpose is to distribute the weight on the whole tire circumference uniformly. Hence, there is a fluid and regular rolling, so vibrations and imbalances in the entire wheel are avoided.
This control is suggested to be done at every tire change or annually, and when hitting major potholes at high speeds.
When the tire has been dismounted, it always requires correct storage.
Tire storage methods depend on their state: without wheels or with wheels. In both cases, there are tire stocking norms and methods so they don’t get deformed and damaged.
It is advisable to clean them before storing them. But how to clean your tires? Simply with water and with correct drying.
This is done because of some eventual substances on the tire surface that can interfere with the compound and damage it.
Another fundamental rule to correctly stock the tires is to keep them away from heat sources, sparkles, or direct light, as well as chemical substances.
Therefore, the conditions of the environment in which the tires are stored are also important for good conservation.
First, the ideal temperature must be maintained between 10-25 °C and the ideal humidity below 60% to avoid mold formation. Furthermore, a dark and ventilated place is required.
As mentioned above, the environment must not contain chemical contaminants (solvents, lubricants, petrol) and sharp or pointed objects that can damage the tires.
A firm NO to storing tires outdoors under tarpaulins for long periods.
You can store the tires at your home in the garage, observing the above instructions or you can ask our affiliated centers to carry out the storage when changing tires.
This will allow you to be safe and calm when changing and save space and time, without forgetting about cleaning!
If you store them personally, the wheels will then have to be transported to the center for assembly, thus risking ruining your car's interior and ruining the tires, if not loaded correctly.
Given all these indications for correct conservation, tire storage techniques are also important to avoid deformations.
These require that tires only be stored raised from the ground on shelves or racks, in a vertical position next to each other and, if they are stored in piles, these should be no higher than 1.20m, taking care to move the tires so that they do not become deformed or damaged.
However, in the case of storing tires with wheels, this will provide support to avoid deformation, and therefore storage in piles will be less dangerous. However, there are also trees to allow you to stack tires on top of each other, while keeping them separate.
They can also be hung on specific tire hooks or racks, but be careful never to hang tires without wheels.
It is also useful to periodically roll the tires stored in a vertical position and store them in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent air, dust, and the like from drying out or damaging the tire.
An important rule to follow before storage is to mark the installation position on the vehicle on the tire and check that it does not need to be replaced because it is worn.
All of the above is carried out step by step by the tire fitter if you decide to rely on a professional. Choosing a professional will also ensure that you do not worry about transporting the tires from your home to the chosen center for fitting, thus avoiding the various inconveniences mentioned previously.
Cambioruote.it has been one of the largest, most organized, and most efficient tire e-commerce in Italy for years.
On our site, you can choose quickly and easily, thanks to all the dedicated filters, the tire that suits you best and receives it at home, or to a conventioned tire fitting center, with free delivery in the shortest time.
On the website, moreover, the support is active and fast and, thanks to the dedicated chat, always available on Whatsapp.
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The Type of the car is a code that the producer assigns to each vehicle in order to distinguish it from similar models.
You can find this code in the italian registration certificate in two places: At point D.2, Vehicle type, or at point E, vehicle identification number.
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