Are you looking out for a new set of tyres for your car? Do you know the correct inflation pressure for your tyres? Or want to find out how you can increase life of your tyres? Well you've come to the right place. Our resident tyre doctor has answers to your questions about tyre care.

• What is the approximate life of a set of tyres?
  
  
• How do I know that it's time to retread my tyres?
  
  
• What precautions can I take to prevent my tyres from wearing out prematurely?
  
• Must all the tyres on my car be the same kind?
  
  
• What is the recommended inflation pressure for my tyres?
  
  
• How are tyres mounted on wheel?
  
  
• Is it necessary to check the balance and alignment of my wheels?
  
  
• Are tubes for Radial tyres different from tubes for ordinary nylon tyres?

The life of your tyres depends on several factors: the condition of your vehicle and the roads, you drive on, driving habits, etc. However road tests have showed that under similar conditions, MRF Steel Belted Radials last considerably longer than other radial in its class.

It is best to remove tyres for retreading when the original tread on the tyres wears upto the tread wear indication (which appears inside the tread grooves against TWI marked on the sidewall.

Always make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. When inflating your tyres, always make sure that the gauge is accurate. Never bleed air from tyres / tubes, which are hot after continuous running. Always make sure that the tyres are the correct pressure at regular intervals (optimally, every fortnight).

Make sure that your tyres have valve caps, which are screwed on securely to prevent air leakage and prevent dirt and other particles from entering the valve pin area. In vehicles fitted with radials as original equipment tyres, make sure that the tyres are inflated to the specified minimum on the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. You will find this on the tyre pressure placard/sticker, which is usually placed near the driver's right hand side door or please refer to the Vehicle Manual.

It is advisable to occasionally check your car's suspension, especially if you are driving on bad roads.

Steel Belted radials are the best type of tyre for your vehicle. As far as possible avoid mixing them with any other kind of tyre. And if you have to mix tyres, NEVER mix a radial tyre with a bias ply/ conventional tyre on the same axle.

Tyres come in different sizes. Make sure that your tyres match the size recommended by your automobile manufacturer. Or use the automatic tyre selector to determine which tyres are best suited to your car.

The inflation pressure of your tyres varies depending on the tyre size and the kind of car you drive. Check the inflation chart for the optimum inflation pressure for your car.

Remember that all Radial tyres, by the nature of their construction appear to be under-inflated. Hence do not inflate them beyond the recommended pressure. Improper inflation can result in uneven tyre wear and even premature tyre/ tube failure. Always check inflation pressure when the tyres are cold.

Correctly mounting a tyre can increase their life span. Here's how it is done: Inspect and clean wheel rims before mounting a new tyre. Ensure all bead seats are completely free of dirt and rust. Remove old wheel weights. It is advisable to replace your wheel rim if a flange is bent.

Always lubricate the tyre beads before mounting, with a mild soap-and-water solution to prevent them from being damaged. Do not use grease or oil to lubricate the beads. Ensure that the beads are properly seated in the rims once the tyre has been fitted.

Yes it is. Electronic balancing of wheels prevents uneven tyre wear that is caused by unbalanced wheels. Ideally, balancing and alignment should be checked every 5000-7000 kms. However, if you are driving on bad roads, it is advisable to check the alignment and balance more often.

Yes. Radial tubes are harder and retain air better. They are built to withstand a higher rate of deflection.