Frelander 2. Manual — part 725

Wheels and tyres

178

L

All of the vehicle's tyres (including the spare)
should be checked regularly for damage, wear
and distortion. If you are in any doubt about the
condition of a tyre, have it checked immediately
by a tyre repair centre, or your Land Rover
Dealer/Authorised repairer.

Tyre wear

Good driving practise will improve the mileage
you obtain from your tyres, and avoid
unnecessary damage.
• Always ensure that the tyre pressures are

correctly adjusted.

• Always observe the posted speed limits,

and advisory speeds for bends.

• Avoid pulling away quickly, or hard

acceleration.

• Avoid making fast turns or braking

sharply.

• Wherever possible, avoid potholes, or

obstacles on the road.

• Do not drive up kerbs, or rub the tyres

against them when parking.

Wear indicators

When the tread has worn down to
approximately 2 mm, wear indicators start to
appear at the surface of the tread pattern. This
produces a continuous band of rubber across
the tread as a visual indicator.

To maintain performance and grip the tyre
must be replaced as soon as the wear indicator
becomes visible. Sooner, if legislation requires
replacement at a greater tread depth.

Note: Tread depth should be checked
regularly, in some case more frequently than
the service intervals. For advice on checking
tyres contact your Land Rover
Dealer/Authorised repairer, or a tyre dealer.

Age degradation

Tyres degrade over time due to the effects of
ultraviolet light, extreme temperatures, high
loads, and environmental conditions. It is
recommended that tyres are replaced at least
every six years, but they may require
replacement more frequently.

Land Rover recommends that even if unused,
the spare tyre be replaced at the same time as
the four road tyres.

Punctured tyres

WARNING

Wear indicators show the minimum
tread depth recommended by the

manufacturers. Tyres which have worn to this
point will have reduced grip and poor water
displacement characteristics.

CAUTION

If tread wear is uneven across a tyre, or
the tyre wears excessively, the vehicle

should be checked by your Land Rover
Dealer/Authorised Repairer as soon as
possible.

WARNING

Do not drive the vehicle with a
punctured tyre. Even if the punctured

tyre has not deflated, it is unsafe to use as the
tyre may deflate suddenly at any time. See
TYRE REPAIR KIT (page 187).

E80236

179

Wheels and tyres

R

Tyre checks

Not all punctures result in the tyre deflating
immediately. Therefore, it is important to check
the tyres for damage and foreign objects,
regularly.

When driving, if a sudden vibration, or change
to the vehicle's handling is noticed, reduce
speed immediately. Do not brake hard, or make
any sudden manoeuvres or direction changes.
Drive slowly to an area off of the main highway
and stop the vehicle.

Note: Driving the vehicle to a safe area may
cause damage to the punctured tyre, but
occupant safety is far more important.

Inspect the tyres for signs of punctures,
damage, or under inflation. If any damage or
deformity is detected, the tyre should be
replaced. If a spare tyre is not available, then
the vehicle should be recovered to a tyre repair
centre, or Land Rover Dealer/Approved
repairer.

Note: The tyres should be checked
immediately after any off-road use, and prior to
using the vehicle on a public highway.

Replacement tyres

Ideally, tyres should be replaced in sets of four.
If this is not possible, replace the tyres in pairs
(front and rear). When tyres are replaced, the
wheels should always be re-balanced, and
alignment checked.

The correct tyre specification for your vehicle
can be found on the tyre information label.

WARNINGS

Do not fit cross-ply tyres.

Do not fit tubed tyres.

Do not swap tyres around the vehicle.
Tyres bed in to the specific

characteristics of each wheel position.
Swapping them around may affect the
vehicle's handling and traction.

Always fit replacement tyres of the
same type, and wherever possible of

the same make and tread pattern.

Replacement wheels should be genuine
Land Rover parts. This will maintain the

designed driving characteristics both on and
off road.

If the use of tyres not recommended by
Land Rover is unavoidable, ensure that

you read, and fully comply with the tyre
manufacturers instructions. Failure to do so
may lead to tyre failure due to incorrect fitment
or use.

WARNINGS

Wheels and tyres

180

L

Directional tyres

Directional tyres are designed to operate
correctly when rotating forwards (when the
vehicle is travelling forwards).

Typical direction indicators

Tyre pressures

Tyre pressures (including the spare) should be
checked at least once a week with normal
on-road use, but should be checked daily if the
vehicle is used off-road. Always check the tyre
pressures before setting off on a long journey.

Use a reliable gauge to check the pressures
when the tyres are cold. Driving as short a
distance as 3 km (1 mile) can warm the tyres
up sufficiently to affect the tyre pressures.

If it is necessary to check tyre pressures when
the tyres are warm, you should expect the
pressures to have increased by up to 30 - 40
kpa (0.3 - 0.4 bar) (4 - 6 lbf/in²). Do not reduce
the tyre pressures to the cold inflation pressure
under these circumstances. Allow the tyres to
cool fully before adjusting the pressures.

E80237

WARNINGS

Never drive your vehicle if the tyre
pressures are incorrect. Under-inflation

causes excessive flexing and uneven tyre
wear. This can lead to sudden tyre failure.
Over-inflation causes a harsh ride, uneven tyre
wear and poor handling.

Pressure checks should only be carried
out when the tyres are cold, and the

vehicle has been stationary for more than
three hours. A hot tyre at or below
recommended cold inflation pressure is
dangerously under-inflated.

If the vehicle has been parked in strong
sunlight, or used in high ambient

temperatures do not reduce the tyre
pressures. move the vehicle into the shade and
allow the tyres to cool before re-checking the
pressures.

181

Wheels and tyres

R

Checking the tyre pressures

1. Tyre information label position on a

left-hand drive vehicle.

2. Tyre information label position on a

right-hand drive vehicle.

The following procedure should be used to
check and adjust the tyres pressures.

1. Remove the valve cap.

2. Firmly attach a tyre pressure gauge/inflator

to the valve.

3. Read the tyre pressure from the gauge,

and add air if required.

4. If air is added to the tyre, remove the gauge

and re-attach it before reading the
pressure. Failure to do so may result in an
inaccurate reading.

5. If the tyre pressure is too high, remove the

gauge and allow air out of the tyre by
pressing the centre of the valve. Refit the
gauge to the valve and check the pressure.

6. Repeat the process adding or removing air

as required until the correct tyre pressure
is reached.

7. Refit the valve cap.

Note: It is an offence in certain countries to
drive a vehicle with incorrect tyre pressures.

Note: It is the driver's responsibility to ensure
that the tyre pressures are correct.

Tyre valves

Keep the valve caps screwed down firmly to
prevent water or dirt entering the valve. Check
the valves for leaks when checking the tyre
pressures.

WARNING

Tyre pressures should be checked
regularly using an accurate pressure

gauge, when the tyres are cold. Failure to
properly maintain your tyre pressures could
increase the risk of tyre failure resulting in loss
of vehicle control and personal injury.

E83967