TYRE PRESSURE:

Only check tyre pressure when your tyres are cold, as pressure increases with temperature. Never bleed air from a hot tyre. Under or over-inflated tyres can lead to premature wear and irreversible carcass damage that could result in tyre failure. You should check your tyre pressure every two weeks. Under normal driving conditions, a tyre may lose as much as 0,3 bar of pressure in one month.

TYRE PRESSURE:

The general perception in SA is that all tyres should be inflated to two bars, but tyre pressures vary from vehicle to vehicle. Consult your nearest Hi-Q outlet or vehicle specification booklet for correct pressure recommendations. Valve Cap: the valve cap keeps sand and dirt out of the valve core, thereby reducing the possibility of air loss through a leaking valve. Always use a metal valve cap, as it will retain the air from a leaking valve core.

WARMING-UP:

A parked vehicle’s tyres can develop flat spots during overnight cold spells, due to the construction of the tyre. In the morning, it is recommended to first travel at a moderate speed for a few kilometres. This will allow your tyres to gradually rise to its optimal operating temperature, eradicating the “thumping” noise caused by these overnight flat spots. Once the tyres reach optimal working temperature, the full performance will come through.

PUNCTURE REPAIR:

In the event of a puncture, call on your nearest Hi-Q outlet, and have one of our professionals conduct a thorough safety inspection to determine whether the tyre can be repaired or not. Do not use sealants to repair punctured tyres – it is fallible and may be in conflict with the tyre manufacturer’s recommendations.

TREAD LIFE:

Tyre tread wear depends on certain factors like driving style, load, inflation pressures, wheel alignment & balancing, road surfaces and many more. Outside temperature plays a significant role in tyre life span. The colder it is, the longer a tyre lasts. At 15°C a tyre would see 100% of its life, but at 35°C it might only last 50% as long. Visit your nearest Hi-Q outlet every 10 000 km for a free tyre safety inspection so that early signs of irregular wear may be corrected in time, and so extend the life of your tyres. An interesting fact is that during its lifetime, the average tyre may rotate up to 26 million times.

PARKING:

The sidewall of your tyre is relatively thin, thus vulnerable to bumps, knocks and bruises from kerbs and potholes. Parking carefully and avoiding potholes whilst driving will reduce tyre sidewall damage.