With so many parts of the world in lock-down, there are no doubt thousands – if not millions – of cars garage-bound for the foreseeable future.
With so much going on, it could be tempting to just park your four-wheeled friend and forget it for the time being, however at Vitora Tyres we’d like to encourage you to undertake a few basic checks before closing the garage door behind you.
Check all tyres are inflated to the correct pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer:
If your tyres are left underinflated and stationary for a long period of time, they can develop ‘flat spots’. This can make the first few drives after the lock-down period is lifted very uncomfortable.
To overcome this, take your vehicle to the local service station and ensure all tyres are inflated to the pressure recommended in your vehicle’s tyre placard usually located inside your driver’s door, underneath the fuel filler cap or in the glovebox.
Then you can park up and lock it away with completed peace of mind!
Check the age of your tyres:
Each of the tyres on your vehicle will have a DOT code that lists a date of manufacture in a four digit code at the end. This code shows the week and year of production for example a tyre with the code 4518 will have been manufactured in the 45th week of 2018.
After tyres reach 5 years of age Vitora recommend that tyres are checked regularly by a tyre professional. They can identify if the tyres are showing any signs of ageing or other issues and advise if the tyres are safe for continued use.
Figure 1: Example of a DOT code showing a date code of 1216. Meaning the tyre was manufactured in the 12th week of 2016.
Check the valves and valve caps for leaks and that the valve caps fit properly:
On the first day back, the last thing you want is to find one of your tyres are flat when you need to drive out! Before shutting your car up, make sure you check all valves and valve caps for leaks, and that the valve caps fit properly. If you have doubts, contact your local tyre dealer who will be able to help.
And that’s it! Don’t be daunted by being kept in-doors – take this time to recharge, reflect, and be grateful!
From all of us at Vitora tyres.
