Spring Outings Frequent, How to Safely Manage Tire Maintenance

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] In spring, as the overall temperature rises and driving conditions change, it is important to pay attention to vehicle inspections. In particular, for a safe driving environment, it is necessary to carefully observe changes in tire conditions such as tire wear level, air pressure check, and tearing, which may have been postponed for a while.

Hankook Tire has reminded the importance of tire maintenance during the changing seasons and proposed the correct 'Tire Safety Management Method' to help drivers create a safer and more comfortable driving environment.

Tire Wear, The Safety Driving Margin: 1.6mm? 3mm!

Many drivers recognize the risks associated with tire wear on wet roads during frequent spring rains, but often fail to examine it carefully due to limited experience with actual dangerous situations. In fact, when braking tests are conducted with the same tire wear condition, the slipping distance on wet roads is more than 1.5 times longer than on normal roads.

Slipping on rainy roads is closely related to the tire's drainage capability. Tires drain water accumulated on the road surface through grooves between the rubber layers called the tread (the tire surface in contact with the road). When tires are excessively worn, the groove depth becomes shallow, reducing the tire's drainage ability and, in severe cases, causing hydroplaning between the tire and the road surface.

Hydroplaning worsens at high speeds, and driving a vehicle with severely worn tires on wet roads at high speed is as dangerous as driving on water.

According to experiments conducted by Hankook Tire, when braking suddenly at speeds over 100 km/h on wet roads, tires with a groove depth of 1.6mm, which are severely worn, showed nearly twice the braking distance compared to new tires with a groove depth of 7mm.

Moreover, in cornering tests at 80 km/h, tires with little wear slipped about 2 to 3 meters, whereas severely worn tires showed risks such as veering off the road.

Regarding tire replacement cycles based on groove depth, most drivers consider replacing tires when they reach the wear limit of 1.6mm, but Hankook Tire recommends replacing tires with some margin when the groove depth is around 3mm for safer driving.

Air Pressure Check for Safe Driving, Tire Life Extension, and Fuel Efficiency: Triple Benefits

After checking tire wear, the next step is to inspect tire air pressure. Maintaining proper air pressure is as important as checking tire wear for tire maintenance.

If tire air pressure is insufficient, rolling resistance increases, and the movement of each part of the tire becomes excessive, generating excessive heat. Additionally, at high speeds, a phenomenon called standing wave occurs, where the tire surface appears to ripple, which can lead to tire blowouts in the worst case, posing a serious danger.

Conversely, if air pressure is excessive, cushioning ability decreases, resulting in poor ride comfort and potential vehicle damage. Since all parts of the tire are tightly inflated, tire damage from sudden external impacts can easily occur, and early wear appears in the central part.

Therefore, it is essential to maintain proper air pressure so that the entire tread area of the tire contacts the ground evenly. Maintaining proper tire air pressure ensures uniform wear, extends tire life, and improves fuel efficiency, allowing drivers to manage tires easily and effectively.

If you are driving a vehicle equipped with winter tires, it is recommended to switch to all-season tires. Winter tires are optimized for winter driving, providing effective grip and braking on snowy and icy roads, but they generate noise and wear faster on normal roads. Therefore, it is advisable to replace them with all-season tires during spring when mild weather is expected to continue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.