Good tyres aren’t cheap, so naturally you want to get as much life out of them as possible.

The good news is that tyre care doesn’t have to be complicated. A few simple habits can help your tyres wear more evenly and last longer.

Keep the correct pressure

Incorrect tyre pressure is one of the easiest ways to cause unnecessary tyre wear.

Check your tyre pressure regularly and adjust it according to your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation.

Don’t rely on how the tyre looks. By the time an underinflated tyre looks obviously flat, it may already be significantly underinflated.

Check your wheel alignment

If your car is pulling to one side or your tyres are wearing unevenly, have the alignment checked.

Poor alignment can cause parts of the tread to wear much faster than others.

You could end up replacing tyres earlier than necessary simply because an alignment problem was left untreated.

Rotate your tyres when recommended

The front and rear tyres don’t always wear at the same rate.

Depending on the vehicle and drivetrain, rotating the tyres at the recommended intervals can help promote more even wear.

Ask your tyre professional about the appropriate rotation pattern and interval for your vehicle.

Avoid unnecessary hard driving

Aggressive acceleration, hard braking and taking corners aggressively can put additional stress on your tyres.

Of course, nobody expects you to drive like you’re carrying a cup of tea on the dashboard every day.

But smoother driving generally means less unnecessary wear on the tyres and other vehicle components.

Watch the roads

Potholes, broken road surfaces and sharp objects can damage tyres and wheels.

You can’t avoid every pothole—especially on some Kenyan roads—but slowing down when you see a bad section gives your tyres a better chance of surviving it.

Inspect your tyres regularly

Take a quick look at your tyres every now and then.

Check for uneven wear, cuts, cracks, bulges and objects stuck in the tread.

If something doesn’t look right, have it inspected.

Taking care of your tyres isn’t about making them last forever. It’s about getting the best safe service life from them while knowing when it’s time to replace them.