The sale of tyres that are non-compliant with the standards applicable in Nigeria has been banned for a while now. Although there are plenty of reputable companies with honest sales people, the shady tyre sales and repair-men are tarnishing the business. Also the misinformation of some of the police force make some of these salesmen tamper with the date of the tyres as they have stocked a lot without people buying and the date of manufacture is running out. So how do we select the right tyres? These tyre sales men keep getting better in tampering with tyres just to make their profit invested back.

The steps to take are as follows:

Read the tyre print: Engravings are important information to check when buying a tyre. The information engraved on the tyres tells the customer about the size, speed and load index, which are car model specific, so this should adhere to the standards of the particular vehicle. “We always recommend respecting the specification of the vehicle manufacturer, if not possible then you go higher in speed and load, but never lower. If the numbers on the tyre are higher, this means that a tyre will be able to carry a heavier load or handle a faster speed. Equally important is the tread wear of a tyre. The tyre tread is the pattern in the rubber formed by the grooves all around the tyre surface. This tread wears off and reduces in depth as the tyres come into contact with the road. It is a natural process that comes along the kilometers driven in the vehicle.

As straightforward as this may seem, in the Nigerian tyre market, it is not. “There are some people in this market who know how to engrave a tyre. They can engrave a date, and even the tyre tread. They can imitate the tread in order to adapt the alignment once the tyre reads regroovable which is the case in many trucks.”

Avoid used tyres: The best way to guarantee that the tread wear is genuine is simple: never buy a used tyre. The sale of used tyres has been banned in Nigeria. “It is easy to recognize a used tyre. The tread-wear has decreased, the tyre is damaged or dirty. The dealers do not hide them either; they will tell you which ones are used and which ones are new with their prices.” A common misconception is that the ban on the sale of used tyres includes the sale of old tyres, but this is not true. “An untouched tyre manufactured two years ago is safer than a used tyre manufactured this year.

Reason for this is that the tyre easily gets damaged when the dealer removes it from the vehicle. Mostly the inside of the rubber has crumbled off and gathered like the crumbles of a flaky cake. While a used tyre comes with many safety hazards, an unused tyre can easily be stored for a couple of years. “In Nigeria, a tyre may be sold two years after its manufacturing date, which is engraved in the tyre. This does not make the tyre bad.

Documents: When you’re buying a new set of tyres before asking you’ll be provided with the information about the tyre, such as warranty, ownership, and other documents. In case, if you find the dealer with no paperwork then it’s better to avoid the fake dealings.

Missing Details: Purchasing the tyres can be tricky even though when you have enough knowledge about the product. However, look for the details that have higher possibilities of missing from the tyre. Ask for the tyre code number explanation that is on the sidewalls and asks for the safety measures, if these things are not matched then do not buy.

When in confusion, google.com is at your service: Identifying the fake ones has become an easy task; just ask for an expert advice. You don’t have to do an archaeological study to search the expert, hit the internet to learn everything at your fingertips. When you don’t have a clue about a certain brand, Google would help with the search and comparison result. However, you need to experience the feeling when you’re on wheels, the internet doesn’t help. Buying a car involves many factors, such as perception, mileage, and personal feeling. When you see something wired or listen awful about the tyres then don’t persuade to buy them because they are available for an economical price. Have a word with some renowned tyre dealers in Nigeria, which is worth it and helps with professional services. If anything goes wrong, a warranty will take the responsibility in fixing the problem.

The reputed dealers: Further, tyre safety depends on the services of the tyre dealer. “A good tyre dealer follows the protocol regarding tyre storage, tyre fitting, tyre repair and tyre alignment. A tyre can be of great quality, but if these services are not provided up to the standards, it can affect the tyre performance. “In a storage place, there should be no oil, dust or chemicals on the floor. It should be shaded and ventilated and the tyres should not be piled up too high. Storage in racks is the best option. You can observe these standards as you enter a shop.”

The Nigerian tyre dealers have been around for over 20 years. “They cater to all customers with small and large budgets. “Not everybody is able to afford a good quality tyre. As a result, these people search for the cheaper options, which they can find on this market.” In order to be sure of the purchase of a good tyre, customers should look for premium brands. However, that spotting the brand name is not enough. The used tyres that catch people’s attention are of several premium brands.

There is still a lot of work to be done to secure the market.

If you’re looking for where to get authentic tyres, visit www.affordabletyres.ng or call 09087934000 today!