Three Tips To Care For Your Tires
Posted on: 15 February 2019
Your vehicle relies on you to see to it that it is well taken care of and that it receives all its routine maintenance needs. But there is more to taking care of your car than just making sure the oil gets changed regularly. One area that often gets overlooked is the car tires, which are a pretty important component of a vehicle, and they deserve more than the occasional kick. Here is what you need to know.
Check Your Air Pressure Monthly
Get yourself accustomed to checking the air pressure in your tires every month. It's easier to remember it if you put it on your calendar and choose the same day, such as the first of the month. Tires that are underinflated will reduce your fuel efficiency, which means you will be needlessly spending more money on gasoline than you need to.
Underinflated tires also make it more difficult to control and steer your vehicle, especially if you are driving on wet, rough, or icy terrain. Driving on underinflated tires also causes uneven wear. At best, this means you will need to replace your tires sooner, another unnecessary expense. At worst, it could mean you will suffer a tire blowout while driving, which can be terrifying and obviously dangerous.
Your tires will naturally lose air each month, and if you ignore this task, you run the risk of these kinds of problems. Buy an inexpensive tire gauge so you can check your tires while they are cold; this is more accurate than taking the reading at the gas station. You can find the manufacturer's tire pressure recommendation on the driver's side door frame. You can use a portable air compressor to fill your tires to the right level or simply visit your nearest service station.
Rotate Your Tires
Your tires should be rotated so they last longer. When you have a service technician rotate them, they follow a recommended pattern based on whether or not you have directional (a tread that goes only one way) or non-directional tires and if you have rear or front-wheel drive. The purpose of rotating the tires is to equalize the wear patterns, thereby extending the life of your tires. Tires should be rotated every six months or after 7,000 miles.
Do A Pre-Trip Inspection
Whether you are going on a long road trip or just a trip across town, the safety-conscious driver should develop the habit of looking at their tires before getting in the car and driving off. This doesn't need to be an elaborate process, just stroll the long way around your car each day while briefly looking for any noticeable bulges or wear on your tires.
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