Hot weather can do a number on your body.

Prolonged exposure to hot weather can cause various health issues, including dehydration, exhaustion, heat rash and sunstroke.

These conditions can cause heavy sweating, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, confusion and weakness.

Although your vehicle does not have the same composition as the human body, exposing it to hot weather can also cause it to develop several issues. These include:

• Degradation of chemical processes inside the car accumulator, causing it to struggle to hold a charge and generate sufficient power.
• Engine cooling system problems.
• Poor engine oil circulation.
• Poorly working or struggling air conditioning system.

Your car tyres suffer from extreme heat as well. High temperatures can cause the air inside to expand, which can then lead to over-inflation.

This, in turn, can cause bulging of the tyre wall, premature wear and tear and other tyre-related breakdowns.

If you want to avoid frequent premature tyre changes in Dubai and accidents on the road, you need to know how to maintain and take care of them since the weather in the UAE is hot nearly all year round.

Maintaining Good Tyre Health in Hot Weather

Below are some important tips for protecting your car tyres from the harsh effects of high temperatures:

1.Check your tyre pressure more often.

A rule of thumb car owners should follow is to check tyre pressure at least once a month to ensure each one is properly inflated.

However, if you live in a city with hot weather year-round, you have to do this more frequently since your tyres take a beating in such conditions.

Aside from the expanding air inside the tyres, the warm surface generates more friction, causing the wheels to become hot quickly.

Additionally, tyre rubber is more prone to abrasion and cracking when it is exposed to high temperatures constantly.

These factors can cause your tyres to become over-inflated or under-inflated.

When your tyres are over-inflated, they are more likely to blow out. Also, the treads tend to separate more easily from them.

Under-inflated tyres can lead to lower fuel efficiency and difficulties in using the brake and in steering your vehicle.

To avoid these problems, make sure you adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure. You can check this on the door handle on the driver’s side.

If the information is not on the door handle, look for it in the glove compartment or read the owner’s manual.

Last, check the pressure when the tyres are cold to get an accurate reading.

2.Know how to spot overheated tyres.

Overheated tyres are one of the common causes of blowouts during hot weather.

You can avoid this dangerous vehicular problem by knowing the signs of overheated tyres. These include the tyres being hot to the touch and over-inflated.

Your tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) can alert you if one or more of your tyres are under-inflated. However, this system won’t give you a warning if they are over-inflated, so you have to touch and look at them frequently.

When you go on a long drive, check for these signs before leaving home and during your stopovers. If you spot any of them, let your tyres cool down longer.

While inspecting your tyres, check for signs of cracks, lumps, bubbles, and wear as well.

3.Keep your tyres clean.

When temperatures are hot, you need to wash your tyres frequently.

Regular washing and waxing can help prevent these vehicular components from drying out and wearing quickly.

Clean your tyres at home using a brush and specialised or regular household cleaning products.

You can also bring your vehicle to a car wash and have the staff clean it inside out, including the tyres.

Another option is to have a car wash crew visit your home and clean your vehicle, including all the interior and exterior components thoroughly.

For additional protection, ensure the tyres are coated with wax or a protectant that can shield them from the effects of high temperatures.

4.Avoid overloading your vehicle.

When your car is overloaded and heavy, it requires a longer braking distance to come to a stop.

This means more friction on the hot surface, which can result in faster tyre wear.

If you can’t avoid adding extra weight to your vehicle because you’re relocating or going on a family road trip to Abu Dhabi from Dubai, check the tyre pressure after loading the car and before going on the road.

If one or more of the tyres are low on pressure, have them inflated before going on your trip.

5.Ensure your wheels are aligned.

Driving over potholes, hitting kerbs and minor vehicle collisions can cause wheel misalignment, which can lead to premature tyre wear, steering vibration, higher fuel usage and accidents.

Also, premature tyre wear caused by uneven wheel alignment can lead to sudden blowouts.

Some signs of vehicular wheel misalignment include:

• Car drifting even if you’re trying to drive straight.
• Bumpy or vibrating ride.
• Vibration emanating from the steering wheel.
• An uncentered steering wheel even when you’re driving straight.

If you notice these signs, have a mechanic check your car immediately. Wheel misalignment can only be corrected by professionals, so don’t attempt to fix this vehicular problem on your own.

6.Be a responsible car owner and driver.

Lastly, maintaining your tyres and staying safe on the road entails being a responsible car owner and driver.

Aside from inspecting your tyre pressure, temperature and alignment regularly, check its tread depth frequently.

Tread depth pertains to the vertical measurement between the tread rubber’s top to the bottom of its deepest grooves.

If your tyre’s tread depth is still good, your vehicle has a better grip on the road when you drive. However, if it is not deep enough, your car can lose traction, experience extended braking times and make it hard for you to control it.

You can check each tread depth regularly by doing the coin or penny test or using a tread wear indicator.

If your tyres are worn thin, replace them immediately. You can have this done at an automotive shop or have expert mechanics provide this service at your home.

Additionally, check your spare tyre tread depth and pressure periodically to ensure you have a safe replacement when you have a blowout.

Lastly, alwaysdrive safely. Stay within the speed limit since the faster you go, the more friction your vehicles get, which can increase the chances of a blowout.

Avoid driving over kerbs and be careful when going over maintenance holes and speed humps as well.

Although you may live in a city with hot weather all year round, you can still protect your tyres and prolong their use and safety when you follow these tips.