The cost of living is still on the rise, even if the rise in the rate of inflation has slowed, and everything seems more expensive every time you turn around! And while the north of the UK tends to be cheaper than the south, with prices peaking in London, even in the newly spruced up town of Dundee, things all cost more than is comfortable for many of us. Tips to save money are always welcome, especially if they involve saving money on tyres which are both vital to the smooth running of your car and expensive! Here’s five money-saving tips for tyre care that will ensure you are as little out of pocket as possible.
Use Fuel Efficient Tyres
Spend a little more on good quality tyres and enjoy seeing that investment, and more, come back to you in the form of less fuel used by your car. Fuel efficient tyres are made from a more rigid material than budget tyres, and their shape is more aerodynamic. This means that they roll smoothly, producing less heat, and offer less resistance to the road: all of which means less fuel used and more money left in your pocket to spend on all the many good things to be found in Dundee and further afield in North-East Scotland. If you are looking for budget friendly car tyres in Dundee, you can now book at Fife Autocentre.
Carefully Maintain Your Tyres
Keep your tyres within the legal requirements, as found on the MOT test checklist: correct inflation levels, plenty of tread depth and no obvious signs of damage or wear. Tyres that are in poor condition are, to you car, rather like you wearing shoes that are bad for your feet. It has a knock-on effect throughout the vehicle’s moving parts, just as bad shoes can give you back-ache or complaining knees – the wear and tear from the contact surface translates itself throughout the steering and suspension systems.
Rotate Your Tyres Regularly
Tyres wear unevenly, with the front tyres and outside edges taking the most strain, while the inside and back tyres are given an easier ride, literally! Rotating the tyres means moving the front tyres to the back, and vice versa, and similarly swapping left and right – this moves the most worn parts to the areas where they will suffer the least wear for a time. If tyre rotation is done every six months or so, the entire tyre surface will wear down slowly, and – most importantly – evenly, so that you will get the longest possible period of use from your tyres. And the longer you can spend between tyre purchases, the better you are doing financially, in the long run.
Align and Balance
Ensuring that your tyres are properly fitted and all pull in the same direction is a simple and effective way to reduce wear and tear on your wheels and the rest of the vehicle. Alignment ensures that the wheels are perfectly positioned on the axis, while wheel balancing ensures that the weight of the car is spread evenly over all four wheels, so that they all carry the same strain for even wear and tear and optimum performance.
Drive Carefully
If you tell yourself that each instance of excessive acceleration or braking is directly costing you money, that might help you to moderate your impatience with slower drivers! It is slightly hyperbolic, but it is actually true: the longer your tyres last, the better value for money they are – and racing along the road, slamming on brakes and driving on rough roads can all worsen the wear on your tyres, forcing you to replace them sooner rather than later. Driving carefully, at moderate speeds, is not only a money-saver where your tyres are concerned though, but is also safer for you, your passengers and other road users, and it helps you to maintain your whole vehicle in great condition for longer too.
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