Bertrand Godin
Who better than a former race car driver to reveal all the secrets of a vehicle?
Consult Bertrand’s blog regularly to perfect your car knowledge.
Tips and tricks
Tire air pressure
Check the air pressure in your tires (including your spare tire) once a month or before a long trip. The pressure must be checked when the tires are cold, meaning your car has not been driven for at least three hours, or was driven for less than two kilometres.
Load limit
Never exceed the load limit stamped on the sidewall. Speak to an experienced professional to verify your tires’ limits.
Obstacles
If you find yourself unable to avoid obstacles on the road such as glass, stones, a curb or any other object, look to see if there is any obvious damage. Have the tire removed by an experience professional for internal verification.
Uniformity of wear
Rotate your tires regularly to ensure even wear. If your manual does not specify how frequently, rotate your tires every 10,000 kilometres.
Once a month, check to ensure even wear and look for any foreign objects lodged in the tread. If you must constantly re-inflate the tire, have a professional remove the tire for a careful examination.
Once a month, check to ensure even wear and look for any foreign objects lodged in the tread. If you must constantly re-inflate the tire, have a professional remove the tire for a careful examination.
Stuck vehicle
If the vehicle is stuck in mud or snow, do not spin the wheels to get out. Spinning, even briefly, can heat and damage tires.
Unbalanced tires
On well-balanced tires and wheels, the vehicle’s mass is distributed evenly on the surface. Unbalanced tires can cause shimmying (shaking from side to side) or tramping (hopping up and down).
Preservation of tires
To preserve your tires, simply clean them with soap and water.
Blowout
In case of a blowout, have the tire’s interior inspected by a professional for a damage assessment.
Proper inflation
For proper inflation, purchase a gauge. Do not rely on air hoses, which are often inaccurate. Under normal driving conditions, the pressure should never be less than the pressure recommended on the vehicle’s information label or above the maximum listed on the sidewall.
Tire size
Purchase the proper sized tire, as indicated in the owner’s manual or on an information label posted somewhere on your vehicle. Check original tires before buying replacements.
Original tires
If the original tires have a speed rating, it is recommended to replace them with tires indicating the same speed rating or a superior rating.
Assess factors
Assess factors such as the tires’ charge capacity, traction, durability and temperature level, also known as the UTQG system (Uniform Tire Quality Grade System).