Tire Care Tips
Tires make movement possible; without them your vehicle is just a fancy machine with no legs. And if you choose to drive on bad tires, your vehicle might take you somewhere but it won't be a safe ride. I guess what we're trying to say is tires are key pieces of a vehicle that also happen to be easy to maintain. You can complete most tire care practices by yourself and the few maintenance tasks that you can't do at home are cheap compared to major auto repairs. If you want to extend the life of your tires, simply follow the below steps.
1. Check Tire Pressure Regularly
Poor tire pressure affects fuel efficiency and tire wear negatively. If you maintain optimal tire pressure it will extend the life of the tire and your vehicle will perform at top-rated MPG levels. You can find optimal tire inflation levels printed in your owner’s manual, the label on your vehicle’s doorjamb, inside the fuel hatch or on the glove compartment door. You should not follow the maximum operating pressure on the sidewall of your tires.
2. Rotate Your Tires Every Six to Eight Thousand Miles
Rotating tires extends their life by helping the tire tread to wear evenly. Each tire and wheel is moved to a different position, thus balancing out tire wear overtime.
3. Check Suspension Alignment
Front and rear suspension alignment ensures your vehicle maintains top handling, and it's a practice that increases the life and performance of tires. Optimal alignment can be ruined by simple potholes and railroad crossings or lager impacts from accidents. If you notice heavy vibrations while driving or uneven tire wear, you should consider checking the alignment.
4. Always Keep Your Tires and Wheels Balanced
Wheels out of balance can cause irregular treadwear and vibration. Every time you purchase new tires, the tires need to be balanced; the first sign of uneven treadwear or heavy vibrations, you should consider checking tire balance.