7 Tire Maintenance Tips That Can Save You Money
When you think of car maintenance you probably think about the engine, transmission, and interior.
But you can’t forget about the tires!
How much attention have you paid to your tires lately?
Tires require regular inspection and maintenance in order to ensure a long lifespan. That makes sense because your tires have a direct influence on the smoothness of the ride, gas mileage and the overall durability of your car.
If you’re new to tire upkeep, don’t worry! We’ve put together a list of 8 tire maintenance tips that’ll ensure your tires keep spinning the way they were intended to.
Keep reading!
1. Rotate Your Tires
If you’ve ever taken your car to get the oil changed, you’ve probably offered the option to have your tires rotated.
If someone offers you this service, you’d be smart to pay for it.
In front-wheel drive vehicles, there is more power and pressure applied to the front two tires. This increased amount of pressure will weigh down on these tires and cause the tread to wear quicker than the back tires.
If you get your tires rotated, this lightens up the amount of power and pressure applied to only two tires. In simple terms, rotating your tires keeps tread levels about the same on each tire. This prevents frequent replacement of the two front tires.
Tire rotation is important when thinking about the life of the tire, so opt for this service every 7,500-10,000 miles.
2. Prioritize the Pressure
Your tires require a certain amount of pressure in them to keep up with the movement of the car.
If your tires are under-pressurized then your car will have to work harder to make the tire rotate. This is why tire pressure should be regularly monitored to get the maximum amount of gas mileage.
It would be a shame to put gas in your car only for it to last half as long as it usually does. To avoid this, give your tires a quick check before you drive.
From time to time, push on the tire to see if it gives and is deflating. It’s also handy to keep a tire gauge in your glove compartment to check the pressure.
You can check the pressure by unscrewing the tire cap and placing the gauge over the tire valve. Depending on your make and model, your tires should have a certain amount of pressure.
This amount of pressure (PSI) can be found in your car manual or on the inside of your driver door.
3. Talk About the Tread
The tread of your tires are the grooves in the tire. These help your tire grab onto the road with control.
If tires have low tread, they become a safety hazard
to you and the drivers around you. Tires with low tread won’t be able to grip the road in the way they were designed to, giving you less control over your vehicle. Tires without optimal tread will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
An easy way to check the tread level on your tires is to take a penny and stick it between one of the grooves so Lincolns head is facing the tire.
If you can see the top of Lincolns head, your tread is low and you’re gonna want to start shopping for new wheels.
4. The Axel Advantage
All cars, no matter front-wheeled or all wheeled, has an axel.
This axel is connected to the brakes, steering and tire rotation. In a nutshell, if altered or askew, your car won’t perform in its proper ways. The axel keeps all of your car balanced and proportioned so that it can drive.
If you find yourself in a position where you only need two new tires, always put them on the rear tires.
In the event that you lose traction in the rear, your car will spin. To avoid this make sure that your nicest tires are in the back to prevent the danger of spinning.
5. The Annual Appointment
When you get your tires rotated, the mechanic should offer to also align your tires.
But how do you know if you need an alignment?
When you drive your car, do you notice the wheel drifting to one side or the other? This could be a telltale sign of unalignment along your tires. Unalignment often leads to unnecessary wear-and-tear on one side of the car’s tires.
This could cause you to have to buy tires earlier than you anticipated. But before you jump to conclusions, check if your tires are underinflated. This could also cause the car to drift to one side or the other.
If your tires are properly inflated, it might be time to get your tires aligned. When you get your next tire rotation, make sure your tires will be aligned as well.
6. The Spare
This tip doesn’t affect your current tires but is a good precautionary step.
A lot of cars that are newer have stopped including spare tires. If your car doesn’t have one make to invest in one. This step can save you tons of time, money and stress don’t the literal road.
On the off chance that you’re cruising and have a flat or blown tire, you’ll be prepared.
Make sure to check the status of this tire often, keeping in mind the pressure amount and tire tread.
7. Mix & Match
If one of your tires has blown and you need a quick fix, you might be tempted to put the first tire on your car that rolls your way.
Don’t!
Putting a tire on your car that is uneven in tread and wear can put extra stress and strain on your other three tires.
So when changing a tire, looking for a new tire replacement or putting a spare in your car, make sure that is the same type of tire with similar tread and wear.
Follow These Tire Maintenance Tips
If you follow these tips, your tire’s lives will be long and sustainable. Keep a close on your tires and they’ll keep on rolling.
If you have more questions and want more tire maintenance tips, let us know! We’d love to explain and provide you with more resources.