Maintaining Your Tires

Getting The Most Out of Your Tires

To get the most out of your tires, it's essential to make proper maintenance a part of your daily routine. Not only will tire maintenance give you better gas mileage and save you money on replacement tires, but it can also prevent unsafe conditions and tire failure from occuring. If you notice that your tires are balding, look visibly under-inflated, or if the tread on the tire displays uneven wear, have a professional inspect them immediately. When it comes to the health of your tires, you're much better being safe than sorry. Any one of these three conditions can lead to tire failure and accidents if they are not taken care of right away

Checking Tire Pressure, Tread Depth, and General Wear

For everyday maintenance purposes, keep an eye on your tire pressure, tread depth, and the general wear on your tires. It may be difficult to "eyeball" your tires when determining air pressure, so always use a tire gauge. If your tires are underinflated, fill them to the level recommended on the vehicle plackard that is usually located inside the door panel of the driver's seat. Make sure to check your pressure frequently, especially in cold weather. Underinflated tires may cause gas mileage to suffer, but they also create hazardous driving conditions. The longer you drive on under-inflated tires, the weaker they will become. Eventually, your tires will be unsuitable to drive on. Save money and extend the life of your tires by staying on top of this easy maintenance task.

It's also important to keep an eye on the depth of your tire tread. The tread is the pattern of grooves cut into the rubber that gives the tire traction. As you rack up the milegage on your tires, the depth of these grooves will begin to get shallower. Eventually, there may not be enough tread left for the tires to be considered safe to drive on. To check your tire tread you can purchase a special gauge from your local auto shop, or just use a penny to do an at-home test. To do the penny test, insert the coin into your tire tread with Lincoln's face facing down towards the center of the wheel. If Abe's face is obscured by rubber, the depth of your tread is at an acceptable level. However, if you can see Lincoln's face, it may be time for new tires. If you are unsure of whether or not your tread is adequate, speak to an expert who can diagnose the situation for you.

Pay attention the the overall condition of your tires. If there are deep grooves or scratches cut into the rubber from hitting curbs or potholes, make sure they aren't serious enough to require a new tire. This sort of blunt trauma can weaken the structure of a tire and make them unsafe to drive on. While tires are generally very durable and can withstand a beating, it's still a good idea to check your tires every now and again to make sure they aren't unsuitable for driving.

Tire Inspection and Rotating Your Tires

Ask your mechanic to take a look at your tires any time your car is in the shop to have work done. A trained technician knows what to look for and can identify existing problems or help you avoid new ones before they materialize. Most cars are due for inspection at 3,000, 6,000, 15,000, 30,000, 60,000, 75,000 miles and so on. It doesn't hurt to ask your local auto shop to take a quick look at your tires whenever they're already doing work on the car.

Tire rotation is another part of standard maintenance that can help extend the lifespan of your tires. Often times when tires begin to display signs of uneven wear, it's not necessary to replace them just yet. By relocating the positions of the tires on your car you can even out road wear and get more mileage out of them. Experts recommend having your tires rotated every 6,000 miles for the best performance.