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For 4×4 tyres that are frequently exposed to different conditions and extreme stresses, regular tyre checks are crucial.
ON -ROAD
- Tyres must always be inflated to the on-road pressures indicated in the vehicles manufacturer’s manual.
- Under- or over-inflated tyres will cause irregular tyre wear and will have different behavior to correctly inflated tyres.
OFF-ROAD
- On rough terrain, slight under-inflation ( ±10%) is preferable.
- To prevent ploughing over loose ground, use 50% of the recommended pressure with very low speeds on short runs to avoid heat build-up in tyres.
- Over sand, 25 – 45% under-inflation improves flotation
- On mud and snow, pressure reductions over 30% are NOT recommended.
- Any further reductions below 50% of pressure are not recommended as it provides only slight traction gain while exposing the tyre to structure fatigue.
- Tyres must always be re-inflated a.s.a.p. to correct working pressure after off-road driving.
- It is highly recommended that after every off-road trip, the tyres should be removed from the vehicle and the inside of the sidewall should be inspected.
- Tyre maintenance is critical, and that includes adjusting the tyre pressure to suit the conditions.
- Deflated tyres allow sand into the rim flanges which damages the rim flanges and bead of the tyres.
[Info via The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC)]
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