نصائح ١٢ Sep ٢٠٢٦ قراءة في ٣ دقائق

Tyres in Qatar: Heat Ratings, Pressures, Age Limits and When to Replace

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Blown tyres are the most common cause of serious single-vehicle accidents on Qatar's highways, and most of them are not punctures - they are old, under-inflated tyres that overheated at ١٢٠ km/h in August. A tyre here lives a harder life than almost anywhere else, and it needs choosing, checking and retiring on a different schedule. This is the guide.

Read the sidewall before you buy

Three codes matter. The size and load/speed rating must match the placard on the driver's door - a 235/60 R18 with a load index of ١٠٣ and speed rating H (٢١٠ km/h) or V (٢٤٠ km/h) for most family SUVs. The UTQG temperature grade should be A, the highest resistance to heat build-up; B is acceptable for city cars, C is not for Qatar. The DOT date code - four digits, week and year, such as ٢٣٢٥ for the 23rd week of ٢٠٢٥ - tells you how old the tyre is. Never buy a "new" tyre already more than a year old.

The five-year rule

Rubber ages by oxidation and heat, and in Qatar a tyre with plenty of tread can be dangerous at five years. Most manufacturers and the Fahes inspectors treat five to six years from the manufacturing date as the limit; many Doha garages replace at four for a car that lives outdoors. Look for fine cracks in the sidewall and between tread blocks - "crazing" - and for any bulge, which means a broken cord and an imminent failure.

Pressure: the setting that changes with the season

Run the placard pressure, measured cold before the sun has been on the car; a tyre checked at noon in July reads 4-6 psi high because the air inside has expanded, and letting it down to the placard figure leaves it under-inflated by night. Under-inflation is the killer: the sidewall flexes more, builds heat and eventually delaminates. Check monthly and before any highway trip. Nitrogen filling is popular in Qatar and holds pressure a little more steadily, but the real benefit is that it makes people check.

Highway, all-terrain or sand

For a saloon or crossover that stays on tarmac, a highway tyre with an A temperature grade and a quiet tread is the right choice. For a Land Cruiser, Patrol, Prado or pickup that goes to Sealine on weekends, an all-terrain tyre trades a little noise and fuel for sidewall strength and grip when aired down to 15-18 psi on sand. Dedicated sand tyres and mud-terrains are for people who do it every weekend; on the road they wear fast and run hot.

What a set costs in Qatar

Prices at the Industrial Area tyre shops, Woqod outlets and the agencies vary with the brand and size. Budget guidance for four tyres fitted and balanced: a Corolla or Sunny size around QR 800-1,400; a Camry or Tucson size QR 1,200-2,200; a Land Cruiser or Patrol 20-inch set QR 2,500-4,500 for a premium all-terrain. Alignment is around QR 100-150 and is worth doing with every new set and after any kerb strike.

Rotation, balancing and alignment

Rotate front to rear every ١٠٬٠٠٠ km so all four wear evenly. Balance whenever you feel a vibration at 100-120 km/h. Have the alignment checked if the steering pulls or the inside edges wear - Qatar's speed bumps and sandy shoulders knock it out faster than you would think.

The spare and the repair kit

Many new cars now ship with a tyre repair kit or a space-saver instead of a full spare. Check which you have before the day you need it, keep a space-saver at its higher pressure, and know that a sealant kit will not fix a sidewall cut. For desert trips carry a full-size spare, a 12-volt compressor and a plug kit.

Warning signs to stop for

A thumping that speeds up with the car, a vibration that appears suddenly, a bulge you can see, a slow leak that needs air every few days, or tread worn to the wear bars. Any of these on a hot day is a reason to pull over and change the wheel, not to make it to the next exit.