Automobile Association of Malaysia

WHEEL AND TYRE CARE

Generally, designs that constitute of spokes, spider webs, a dish or even five and six-spoke designs are those considered timeless and well suited for most make of vehicles.

Not only are these designs the most contemporary, it also sometimes make the wheel appear bigger than what it actually is. You can have 15” inch wheels fitted and people would easily mistaken it for 16” or 17” inch alloys simply because of the contour and the illusion it gives.

So dictated by trend is the wheels market that you’ll even find wheels designed like a flower, one with teddy bears on them and even those that have too complex of a design to describe.

There’s really no harm in being different and besides, there’s always a thriving second hand market in case you grow tired of the wheels.

As far as colour is concerned, the hottest selling wheels are still those with the original alloy or grey look. White, black and gold painted wheels are cool but you’ll really have to see if it contrasts the colour of your car and bring out the appearance even more. Today’s trend however, are chrome finished wheels.

TYRE

Always keep tyre pressures at the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer and published in your handbook or on the vehicle placard that is affixed to your car.
Tyre pressures should be checked at least once a fortnight, when they are cold - if you note that the pressure is down by more than 35 kPa (5 psi.) have the tyre checked by a tyre specialist.
Never check the tyre pressure when they are hot - air expands and can give a reading increase of up to 35 kPa (5 psi.).
Don’t forget to check the spare wheel.
If your car develops a “shake” through the steering as you increase speed, there is a a problem and it requires correction. This may only be a wheel balance (normally you will drive into the shake and then you will drive out of it as your speed increases). This can be carried out at your nearest tyre or service outlet within half an hour and saves damage to the vehicle suspension and steering components.
A wheel alignment is essential for even tyre wear which will give your tyres a longer life and should be done once a year or every 20,000 kilometres. Although the tyres are not the fault (they are merely being presented to the road on the wrong angle) it is very correctable and adds kilometres to your tyre life
If the car drifts or the tyres have uneven wear, it is advisable to take the car to a mechanic for alignment without further examination.
Check for cuts and bulges on a regular basis. They are visual proof of internal damage and have the potential to become extremely dangerous.

WHEELS

Wash your alloys with soap and water every time you clean your car.
Brake dust and road grime make wheels difficult to clean. You may want to try a concentrated wheel cleaner, available in the market. Have a hose, a sprayer attachment, a bucket of soapy water, a wheel brush and an old mitt.
If your vehicle has aluminum or chromeplated wheels, apply wheel polish after cleaning the wheels, then buff to bring out the shine.
Wire, spider web and spoke wheels are striking in appearance but difficult to care for. Use a toothbrush to apply polish in tight areas.
Use a torque wrench to tighten the wheel to specification (remember to use a criss-cross tightening pattern). Many service outlets use air guns to secure wheels. If you over-torque you can damage the wheel, over-stress the lugs and bolts, and make wheel removal impossible.
With a jack, lift the car and place the front end on jack stands. Hold one front wheel by its top and bottom. Shake the wheel to check for looseness. If loose, take it to a mechanic and ask for wheel bearing service. Out-of-balance tyres will cause a car to vibrate at certain speeds. A tyre is out of balance when one section of the tyre is heavier than the other. Imbalance on a front tyre is enough to cause a vibration in the steering wheel. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how smooth their car drives after balancing all four wheels.