A studless tire that is indispensable for driving on snowy roads
■ This time, we will explain how to extend the life of studless tires
■ The service life varies depending on daily inspections, usage, and storage methods.
Daily inspection and usage/storage methods are key
Studless tires are installed so that you can run on ice, snow, and harsh road conditions unique to winter. However, these studless tires are worn for only 1/4 to 1/3 of the year and replaced after 3 to 4 years. Moreover, they are more expensive than summer tires. Even in winter, depending on the region, there may be people who say that the true value of studless tires is rarely used. It's a very low-cost item. Some people wonder if there is a way to extend their life span. Is there a way to do that?
What is the lifespan of studless tires?
Studless tires are frequently said to need to be replaced after 3 to 4 years of use. Therefore, some people think that the life of a studless tire is the number of years that have passed since it was manufactured. However, the number of years cannot be considered to be an accurate life expectancy. It is often said that the number of years is the lifespan of tires, not just studless tires, but the Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JAMA) recommends that tires should be inspected at tire dealers after five years from manufacture, and should be replaced after ten years. ” (partially omitted) is stated on the website.
Even though you may think, "I'm lucky, I can use it," don't just take the description at face value. This number of years is only a guideline and should be regarded as the number of years based on daily inspections and appropriate usage and storage methods. It can be said that there is a secret to extending the life of these daily inspections and usage/storage methods.
Hardening of rubber is affected by temperature difference, moisture, ultraviolet rays, etc.
Hardness is the criteria for judging service life
If the number of years is not the exact lifespan but depends on daily inspections, usage and storage methods, how should we judge the lifespan of a tire? One of them is rubber hardness. Tires are made of rubber, and it can be said that the deterioration of rubber has a great impact on performance. Rubber hardness is represented by a numerical value from 0 to 100, and it can be said that the smaller the number, the softer the rubber and the closer to the state where the performance has not deteriorated. As a guide only, the hardness of new studless tires is about 45, with 55 to 60 requiring caution and 60 requiring immediate replacement.
A rubber hardness tester that can check rubber hardness will be permanently installed in tire shops, etc., and it is also possible to purchase it on the Internet. It would be a good idea to check the hardness just before the season when you install studless tires.
to prolong life
So what should be done to prevent the tire rubber from hardening? The hardening of rubber is affected by temperature differences, moisture, ultraviolet rays, and other factors. It can't be helped when you're wearing it, but when storing it, keep it in a place where it's less affected by these things. Also, it is not preferable to park the car with studless tires in a parking lot where the afternoon sun hits it well.
There's no trick to extend the lifespan significantly, but it's best to store it in a warehouse that protects it from rain, wind, and sunlight while it's in storage. It is best to set the air pressure to about half of the specified air pressure by stacking the tires when the wheels are installed. Since it may react with moisture and deteriorate, it is also good to protect the tread surface from contact with the air with commercial plastic wrap.
Also, studless tires need to be concerned about deterioration due to wear, just like normal tires. Because the rubber is softer than normal tires to perform at low temperatures, they tend to wear faster on dry asphalt. Studless tires have a protrusion called a platform that tells you that the remaining tread is 50% of that of a new tire. Once it reaches the platform, this is also the end of its life. Basic tire maintenance, such as checking alignment and air pressure, is important to reduce wear.
There is no magical way to greatly extend the life of studless tires, but with a little care and effort, you can slow down the rate of deterioration. This is a point that you should keep in mind to drive safely on winter roads.
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