Land Rover Defender: Tire care

Make sure the following warnings have been read and fully understood before driving the vehicle. Failure to do so may result in an accident, leading to serious injury or death.

Do not drive the vehicle if a tire is damaged, excessively worn, or incorrectly inflated. A tire in such a condition may catastrophically fail and cause an accident.

Avoid contaminating the tires with vehicle fluids. Vehicle fluids may cause damage to the tire and cause a tire failure.

Avoid spinning the wheels. The forces released can damage the structure of the tire and cause it to fail.

If wheel spin is unavoidable due to a loss of traction, e.g., in deep snow, do not exceed the 30 mph (50 km/h) point on the speedometer. Do not allow anyone to stand near or directly behind a tire that might spin.

Do not exceed the maximum pressure stated on the sidewall of the tire.

Note: Tire condition should be checked after the vehicle has been used off-road.

Check all of the vehicle's tires, including the spare, regularly for damage, wear, and distortion. If in any doubt about the condition of a tire, have it checked immediately by a tire repair center or a retailer/authorized repairer.

TIRE PRESSURE SAFETY

Make sure to read and fully understand the following warnings. Failure to comply with the safety instructions could result in an accident, leading to serious injury or death.

Check the tires, including the spare, for condition and pressure on a weekly basis and before long journeys.

All tire pressures, including the spare, should be checked. Failure to properly maintain the tire pressures could increase the risk of tire failure.

The loading of the vehicle should always be considered when checking and adjusting the tire pressures. Failure to do so may lead to a loss of control, potentially causing serious injury or death.

Always use a calibrated tire pressure gauge. Using an un-calibrated tire pressure gauge may result in tires with incorrect pressures. Incorrect tire pressure can lead to vehicle instability.

Never drive the vehicle if the tire pressures are incorrect. Under-inflation causes excessive flexing and uneven tire wear, which can lead to sudden tire failure. Over-inflation causes harsh ride, uneven tire wear and poor handling.

Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.

If the tire pressures are checked while the vehicle is inside a protected, covered area, e.g., a garage, and subsequently driven in lower outdoor temperatures, tire under-inflation could occur.

A slight pressure loss occurs naturally with time. If this exceeds 2 psi (0.14 bar, 14 kPa) per week, have the cause investigated and rectified by qualified personnel.

Pressure checks should be carried out ideally when the tires are cold, and the vehicle has been stationary for more than 3 hours. A hot tire at, or below, the recommended cold inflation pressure, is dangerously under-inflated.

Tires can be hot after driving, if the vehicle has been parked in strong sunlight, or used in high ambient temperatures. Do not reduce the tire pressures. Recheck the pressures when cold.

If the tire pressures are checked when the tires are warm, expect the pressures to have increased by up to 4 to 6 psi (0.3 to 0.4 bar, 30 to 40 kPa). If Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) advised pressures are not available in the instrument panel, allow the tires to cool fully before adjusting the pressures.

For vehicles with TPMS, it is possible to adjust the pressure of a warm tire, providing the advised pressures are used.

READ NEXT: