All about Continental Tyres

Do you know a tyre rotates on the wheel about 480 times per kilometer? The rotation from a “relaxed state” to a “loaded state” depends on the speed of your car. This constant rotation produces heat. The heat generated makes the tyres supple. This leads the tyres to wear gradually over time.

The first sign of a tyre wearing out is visible on the tread. Being the only contact point with the road, the tread is the most important component of a tyre from the point of view of safety and longevity of Continental tyres Coventry.

Many factors have an adverse impact on tyres. Apart from speed and your driving style, road and weather conditions impact them greatly. Potholes, road bumps, sharp turns, sharp inclines, unpaved and stony roads, and waterlogged terrains are some of the adverse road conditions.

Extreme weather conditions have a corrosive effect on car tyres Coventry. Excessively high or low temperature affects the tyre inflation. The air contracts in cold weather, leading to a sharp decrease in air pressure. Cold weather also brings its own troubles in the form of snow and ice. This makes roads wet and skiddy, increasing braking distance. Cold weather hardens the rubber compound, making the tyres brittle and prone to damage.

Hot weather, on the other hand, causes tyres to over-inflate. The air in them expands owing to heat. Then, the resistance force when they roll at speed also generates a lot of heat. If the problem persists, it may lead to a blowout.

• Hitting sharp objects, bumps and kerbs also damages the tyres.
• All these may lead to thinning of the tread, cuts, and bulges on them.

The downside is you cannot avoid some damages to tyres. But you can certainly ensure that the damages caused to them are identified on time and promptly fixed. This can be done by making a habit of routinely inspecting your tyres for signs of damages.

Here are Some Tips to Help You Do That.

Identify Irregular Tread Wear: Irregular tread wear can be of many types. The most common types are heel and toe wear, one-sided wear, and centre wear.

Heel and toe wear is a display of distortional forces applied on the tread. It is visible from the outside on the outer edge. This wear is caused by normal usage and suspension settings. The tread has grooves and sipes patterned to ensure safety on wet roads. Their basic function is to offset the build-up of the water layer around tyres. This water buildup is called aquaplaning.

To allow water to drain, cross grooves are patterned on the shoulder area of the tyre. These grooves take the form of blocks. These shoulder blocks may wear in a heel and toe pattern. This happens when you make long journeys at a consecutive pace. In addition, heel and toe wear is caused by problems related to the alignment and camber angle of the suspension.

If the heel and toe wear is small, there is nothing to worry about. An extensive heel and toe wear may affect driving comfort. It should be fixed by looking into its origin like improper inflation and other issues.

Incorrect axle geometry is the main cause of one-sided wear. Deviations from standard specifications may upset this geometry. This may lead to wheels becoming misaligned without one noticing it. For example, lowering the height of the vehicle when low-profile tyres are used may lead to wheel misalignment.

If wheels are misaligned it’s time you saw an expert mechanic.

Identify the Bulge on the Carcass: When a tyre hits some obstacle it may break the casing or carcass of the tyre. This kind of damage is called impact break. A pronounced bulge on the sidewall is a sure sign of the cords of the carcass having been destroyed.

It happens when you hit kerbs and speed bumps at high speed. This overstresses the individual cords causing them to break. Don’t ignore such damages to sidewalls as it threatens the structural integrity of the tyre. It may lead to a complete disintegration of the sidewalls.

Identify a Cut: Sometimes bad road conditions and protruding sharp objects may cause cuts on the surface of the tyre. Visit a specialist when you spot cuts on your tyres.

Can We Prevent Damage to Tyres?

Yes, of course. You can ensure this by following some simple steps.

Rotate tyres at regular intervals. For this, swap wheels from the driven to the non-driven axle, that is, from front to back. This will help the tread wear evenly. An even tread means longer lifespan of the tyres.

Ensuring proper inflation is the key to avoiding a flat or blowout. Keeping the air pressure at the optimum working level is essential for strong grip and traction on the road.

Keep your wheels well aligned and well balanced. If the tread is wearing unevenly or you are experiencing vibrations, it has to do with your wheels.

When to Replace Tyres?

You need to replace your old tyres in the following cases:

• The tread has thinned to the recommended level of depth.
• There are bulges, blisters, and cuts on their sidewalls.
• They have holes bigger than 6 mm in diameter.
• They are well past their warranty period.
• They are older than six years even if they don’t show apparent ageing signs.

While deciding to replace your tyres, check the best tyres available around. Compare all brands for their range, their customer base, and reviews from their buyers. A wider customer base is a sure indicator of the trust the users put on the brand for quality and accessibility.

Continental Tyres is the fourth largest tyre manufacturing company in the world. The company is credited with the development and production of tyres with plain tread way back in 1898. It also launched the first grooved vehicle tyres in 1904. A year later, Continental invented a detachable wheel tyre specially designed for touring vehicles. The German multinational is a diversified automotive parts manufacturing company. It specializes in manufacturing brake systems; interior electronics; automotive safety, powertrain, and tachographs.

The company produces tyres worldwide for automobiles, motorcycles, and bicycles. Its client base includes all major automobile, truck, and bus manufacturers.

So, if you are going to buy a new set of tyres, go for a truly continental brand.

The winter temperature in Coventry ranges about 3–8 degrees Celsius with 9–11 days of rain every month of the season. The summer temperature stands at about 12–22 degrees Celsius with 7–8 days of rain every month of the season. The hottest month is July when the average temperature stands at 17 degrees Celsius. The coldest is January with the average temperature standing at 4 degrees Celsius.

Such weather conditions suit Continental’s all-season tyres. But it is always advisable to seek expert advice before you go for a particular type. Punch in some useful search words, such as Continental tyres Coventry and car tyres Coventry, in your smartphone. This would lead you to the right garage. Their team will guide you through a range of Continental tyres to choose from, winter, summer and all-season. While fitting the tyre, they will also take care of wheel alignment, wheel balancing, suspension, and other sundry issues.