- It is recommended to check and, if necessary, adjust the alignment of the front wheels every 10-15 thousand km. These are important parameters on which the stability of the car, driving comfort and durability of tires depend. Wheel alignment should only be done if the suspension and steering are in perfect working order. The alignment needs to be done for several reasons:
- the car after adjusting the alignment will not lead to the side;
- the machine will be easier to control, it will become more maneuverable;
- having the correct alignment parameters saves fuel and increases tire life.
- Be sure to balance the wheels in the following cases:
- after every 15 thousand kilometers or with a seasonal change of tires;
- when assembling a wheel on a tire;
- after the first «knurled» 500 kilometers after installing new tires on the rim;
- after suspension failure (hard hitting the wheel).
Wheel imbalance can lead to the destruction of steering parts, shock absorbers, wheel bearings and other suspension parts can also fail. All this is due to vibrations that are carried throughout the body of the car if the wheel is unbalanced. But the main danger lies in the fact that the overall controllability of the car becomes significantly worse and, as a result, the driving process becomes unsafe.
- One of the most important elements of the suspension are shock absorbers. The dampers absorb excess energy generated by the springs and tires, limiting the rebound of each wheel. By keeping the tires in contact with the road under all circumstances, the shock absorber provides perfect grip, reliable steering and efficient braking. Shock absorbers lose their performance gradually, so it is difficult for the driver to notice the deterioration of their performance. The easiest way to check the health of shock absorbers is to test for "wiggle": Press lightly on the wing and release. If the car returned to the top point and stopped - the shock absorber is working, if it continues to sway or remains at the bottom point - the shock absorber needs to be replaced. If the shock absorbers fail, the car wobbles and the wheels fly through the air more than they ride on the road. And when the wheels do not touch the ground, the car does not accelerate, turns poorly and almost does not brake. Moreover, faulty shock absorbers lead to rapid wear of other suspension parts, so by postponing the solution of the issue indefinitely, you run the risk of getting the suspension repaired over time «round», that is, in its entirety. Change shock absorbers in pairs (on both sides of the axle), to keep the vehicle balanced and provide traction in the event of emergency braking. In the event that the shock absorbers have different characteristics, the car may begin to suffer from insufficient or, even worse, oversteer, the behavior of the car will become unpredictable.
- Periodically monitor the condition of the tire tread and change tires in a timely manner. Although the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm for passenger cars, 4.0 mm is the critical level from a safety point of view. Therefore, we recommend replacing tires when the tread depth is less than 4.0 mm. A further reduction in tread depth leads to a significant increase in braking distances on wet roads. These tires are highly susceptible to the effect «hydroplaning», when the car literally pops up above the road and becomes uncontrollable, thus endangering the lives of the driver and passengers.
- At least once a month (and if you travel a lot, then once a week) It is recommended to check tire pressure with a pressure gauge. The pressure must comply with the recommended standards in the vehicle manual. Tire pressure affects driving safety, driving performance, fuel consumption and tire life. If the pressure is too high, the tires do not provide a comfortable ride, and the load on the vehicle's suspension increases. Tire pressures that are too low reduce safety. The braking distance is lengthened, the car reacts slowly and reluctantly to steering movements, moves unsteadily in a straight line. In addition, an under-inflated tire overheats and is more likely to explode. Both low and high tire pressure lead to premature tire wear. Lower pressure wears out the edges of the tire, while higher pressure wears out the middle.
- Replace summer tires with winter tires in a timely manner. If the average daily temperature drops to (or below) +5 +7 С*, summer tires lose their properties, "dub", the grip on the road is significantly worsened, and the braking distance is lengthened. If the air temperature drops below 0 degrees and the road is covered with a crust of ice, driving on summer tires becomes simply dangerous. You should also not rush to replace winter tires with summer ones. An exception may be studded winter tires, which, when driving on clean asphalt, firstly, lose some of the studs, and secondly, do not have sufficient grip on the roadway, which can be unsafe during emergency braking.
- Do not use winter tires in summer, even if they have no studs left and the tread has sufficient depth. Winter tires are softer, their composition is not designed for use in harsh summer conditions, they wear out quickly. During the operation of the car in the summer on winter tires, directional stability, handling and braking properties deteriorate, the car reacts sluggishly to steering turns, and the braking distance increases. Winter tires are not safe to use in summer.