Fitting, tyre pressure and care

Fitting, tyre pressure and care

Fitting

Tyres should be fitted in a workshop. Professional fitting includes mounting on the cleaned rim, a new valve, balancing and tightening the wheel nuts to the specified torque.

Important for directional tyres: the arrow on the sidewall ("Rotation") must point in the direction of travel. For asymmetric tyres, "Outside" must face outwards.

Re-tighten the wheel nuts: check again with a torque wrench after 50 to 100 km.

Tyre pressure

Correct tyre pressure is the single most important factor for safety, wear and fuel consumption. You will find the specifications in the fuel filler flap, on the door pillar or in the owner's manual – not on the tyre.

  • Check the pressure at least every four weeks and before every long journey
  • Always measure when the tyres are cold
  • Use the higher value when fully loaded or towing
  • Do not forget the spare wheel

Just 0.5 bar too little noticeably increases rolling resistance, overheats the sidewalls and causes wear on the shoulders. Too much pressure wears the centre of the tread and reduces grip.

Trucks and agricultural machinery

For truck tyres, the required pressure depends on the axle load – check the manufacturer's pressure table for your actual load. With dual fitment, both tyres must have the same pressure and roughly the same wear.

Agricultural tyres are often run at much lower pressures to reduce soil compaction. Observe the manufacturer's approval for the relevant pressure range and driving speed.

Regular visual inspection

  • Measure tread depth – legal minimum 1.6 mm, in winter at least 4 mm in practice
  • Look for cracks in the sidewall and tread grooves
  • Bulges on the sidewall mean casing damage – replace the tyre immediately
  • Uneven wear indicates wheel alignment or shock absorber problems

Storage

Cool, dry and dark, away from oil, solvents and electric motors (ozone). Store tyres without rims upright and turn them monthly; stack complete wheels with rims lying flat or hang them. Increase the pressure by about 0.5 bar before storage.