It is important to realize that tyres are made to be used and not to lie idly in the boot. Tyres lose their properties over a period and even more so when not in use. This is why, in the case of having a spare tyre that is normally usable, to include it when rotating the wheels of your car and this should have been performed from when the car, or the tyres were new.

One may have noticed that, in the case of the spare tyre being a “biscuit”, there is a warning not to exceed 80 kph. This is due to a number of reasons:

1. The tyre is not a high speed or performance tyre.
2. The tyre is not exactly the same diameter as the tyres on the car and could cause damage on the drive train if used for long periods.
3. The tyre may be an Senior Citizens tyre if it has not been in use for some time.

Rotating the wheels of your car should be carried out at 10,0000km intervals together with an alignment check and wheel balancing. Tyres wear in a peculiar fashion depending in which position it is running (i.e. left/right side or front/rear) and, of course, depending on the state of the alignment.

All tyres are dated on the sidewall giving details of the week and year of manufacture, which means that, if the tyres are five years old or more, they have, begun to lose their good properties and should be replaced.

This is the reason why the spare should be included when rotating wheels.

Of course, tyre pressures play a vital role in tyre longevity and safety and it is a wise practice to check inflation once a week, including the spare, when the tyres are cold.

Should you have any doubts regarding the tyres or the wheel alignment on your car, please feel free to contact me at
440-9540/2.