Tyre maintenance

Proper care and maintenance of tyres lead to greater safety, better road holding and improved comfort. It can also save you from the risk of severe penalties (i.e. fines and driving licence penalty points).

Tyre care checklist

Follow these simple steps to keep your tyres in good condition:

1. Check the pressure weekly, and don't rely on the service station air pump for an accurate reading. Quality tyre pressure gauges are inexpensive and available from motor accessory stores, like Repco where NRMA Members are entitled to up to 10% off a wide range of auto accesories. Remember, it's best to check your tyres when they're cold. Refer to your owners manual for the correct pressure for your car.
2. Check your tyres are roadworthy. Look at the tread (you can turn the front wheels out to make this easier) and you will see some small bars of rubber running across it at several places around the tyre. If the tread is worn down to any of these bars, you should replace the tyre.
3. Rotate your tyres regularly to even them out and lengthen their life span. See your owners manual for guidelines, or check with a tyre specialist or your service centre as some tyres are directional front to back only. Some cars have different width rotational tyres (like exotic sports cars) so each tyre is specific to its position on the car.

How do I change a tyre?

Warning - always follow the driver's handbook instructions and make sure the jack is on firm ground before jacking up your car.

1. Apply handbrake & chock wheel on opposite side of the car
2. Place the jack under your car near the wheel to be replaced
3. Loosen wheel nuts with socket wrench or another appropriate tool
4. Jack the car up until the wheel is clear from the ground
5. Undo wheel nuts with socket wrench or other appropriate tool
6. Remove wheel and replace with spare wheel
7. Screw wheel nuts back on firmly
8. Lower jack and tighten wheel nuts.

More detailed instructions on changing a tyre or refer to your owner's manual.

Which tyres should I fit?

There are no simple recommendations on tyre performance. Tyres are affected by how and where you drive your car, which tyres are fitted to which cars, and a range of other issues. The best guide is to ensure you fit the correct sized tyres for your car. To find out what size of tyre your car should have, look at the tyre placard (normally located in the glovebox or driver's-side door jam) on your car. Otherwise, refer to your owner's manual. If you're happy with your existing tyres' performance replace them with the same make and model.

Should I use retreads?

The major problem with retreads is that they don't often meet the manufacturer's specifications for speed ratings and load-carrying capacity. As a result, we don't normally recommend buying retreads. However, if you do want to buy retreads, ensure they comply with your vehicle manufacturer's specifications. Be aware that retreads are speed limited.

What do the letters and numbers on a tyre mean?

When you look at your tyres, you'll see markings which give you the specifications for that tyre. For example: P 195 / 60 R 15 94 H. What do they mean?

• Excessive wear on any part of the tyre which reduces the depth of the tread to 1.5mm. Refer to tread wear indicators (TWI) on tyre sidewall for position of tread depth checkpoint.
• Any cuts, bulges or distortions

If your tyres show any of these signs, have them checked out by your mechanic or a tyre specialist. It's illegal and dangerous to drive on unroadworthy tyres. 

How do I check my tyre pressure?

Tyre pressure gauges are available for use at most service stations, but NRMA Motoring & Services recommends you buy your own gauge to ensure consistent readings.

To check your tyre pressure:

• Unscrew the cap on the air valve of your tyre
• Push the gauge's valve over the tyre valve
• Look at the pressure reading on the gauge

Remember: It's best to check your tyres when they're cold.

Refer to your owner's manual for the correct pressure for your car.