The disadvantages of driving an un-roadworthy vehicle include paying a hefty fine if caught (or a bribe: corruption is rife these days), your insurance refusing to pay if you’re involved in an accident and if someone dies in the accident courts will unlikely take your side.
Cash strapped or not, this is what all motorists need to consider before taking that un-roadworthy vehicle out for a spin. And tyres are the most important part that can turn a car into a high-speed man-made monster.
Usually this is the dilemma: You need to keep your car going, but the tyres are worn out and your pay-advice is embarrassing (it’s not the fake one you show the girls). What then?
Well, quite honestly, if money is the issue then second hand tyres is the way to go. But before you do buy, like any responsible driver you need to have safety in your mind. This means knowing the standard specification of tyres for your car. Not only is this playing safe, but using correct tyres can also save you fuel and in Zimbabwe where fuel is a luxury, fuel economy must be important to you.
Buying a second-hand tyre, like buying any other second had item, is not easy. Many questions come to your mind. Will it last? Why was it let go by the owner? How old is it? Of course one question that many people do not ask themselves is what environment was it designed for?
Some countries have snow and ice with tyres specially designed for that environment. It’s nothing to worry about if everyone was honest, but dealers have a tendency of looking for a quick dollar by not following recommendations. Using such tyres on Zimbabwean roads would be unsuitable. Mostly, such tyres are brought into the country for retreading. But because on some the tread will be acceptable the importer then sells it as it is.
Retreads are another popular option to brand new tyres because of the significant price difference. Retreads have an appeal because they look new but generally they don’t last in comparison to brand new ones. This can be a problem with the tyres or other issues like wheel alignment and road quality (our roads have really been hard hit by a pothole outbreak).
It is advisable to buy retreads from reputable dealers. Most car-owners might be unaware but tyre can only be retreaded once. Some dealers will simply ignore this and will put new tread on an old casing more than once. Manufactures of tyres recommend a tyre lifespan of seven to eight yrs.
The tread is an important part of the tyre. It affects speed and handling. The casing holds everything together into a tyre just like a skeleton gives structure to some living creatures. Another important function of the tread is to remove water from between the tyre rubber and the road in wet conditions. Without it the tyre would be bald and there would be layer of water between the tyre and the road making driving dangerously difficult.
Cash strapped or not, this is what all motorists need to consider before taking that un-roadworthy vehicle out for a spin. And tyres are the most important part that can turn a car into a high-speed man-made monster.
Usually this is the dilemma: You need to keep your car going, but the tyres are worn out and your pay-advice is embarrassing (it’s not the fake one you show the girls). What then?
Well, quite honestly, if money is the issue then second hand tyres is the way to go. But before you do buy, like any responsible driver you need to have safety in your mind. This means knowing the standard specification of tyres for your car. Not only is this playing safe, but using correct tyres can also save you fuel and in Zimbabwe where fuel is a luxury, fuel economy must be important to you.
Buying a second-hand tyre, like buying any other second had item, is not easy. Many questions come to your mind. Will it last? Why was it let go by the owner? How old is it? Of course one question that many people do not ask themselves is what environment was it designed for?
Some countries have snow and ice with tyres specially designed for that environment. It’s nothing to worry about if everyone was honest, but dealers have a tendency of looking for a quick dollar by not following recommendations. Using such tyres on Zimbabwean roads would be unsuitable. Mostly, such tyres are brought into the country for retreading. But because on some the tread will be acceptable the importer then sells it as it is.
Retreads are another popular option to brand new tyres because of the significant price difference. Retreads have an appeal because they look new but generally they don’t last in comparison to brand new ones. This can be a problem with the tyres or other issues like wheel alignment and road quality (our roads have really been hard hit by a pothole outbreak).
It is advisable to buy retreads from reputable dealers. Most car-owners might be unaware but tyre can only be retreaded once. Some dealers will simply ignore this and will put new tread on an old casing more than once. Manufactures of tyres recommend a tyre lifespan of seven to eight yrs.
The tread is an important part of the tyre. It affects speed and handling. The casing holds everything together into a tyre just like a skeleton gives structure to some living creatures. Another important function of the tread is to remove water from between the tyre rubber and the road in wet conditions. Without it the tyre would be bald and there would be layer of water between the tyre and the road making driving dangerously difficult.
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