What Tire Maintenance Tips Will Help My Tires Perform Better And Last Longer?
Hot, summer days and freezing cold, winter nights can be brutal on your car or truck, which is why it’s so important to make sure your vehicle and tires are in tip-top condition before heading out on your next road trip.
At Next Tires, we recommend drivers carefully inspect their tires regularly and before any road trip to increase the performance and safety of their vehicles on the highway. After all, your tires are the only part of your vehicle that make contact with the road, so it’s vital they perform well, under any and all conditions!
Regular Tire Maintenance Can Prevent Problems
Vehicle and tire maintenance, is usually the last thing most of us are thinking about. Especially when the car is working properly. That is of course, until we see the infamous Check Engine or TPMS lights flash on the dashboard, or experience a flat tire. And these problems seem to happen at the most inconvenient and unexpected times. At this point for most of us, the best, if not only, option remains the all-too-costly auto mechanic or a new tire, when you’re not even halfway through the life of the current tire.
Tires, which are your vehicles only point of contact with the road, making them the foundation for your car or truck, are no different than any other part of your car. Maintenance is the key to great performance and extended (tread) life. The simplest, most basic tire maintenance can dramatically improve the way your car performs on the road – it also helps you save on gas (mileage and money) and avoid potential issues down the road.
Below is a short-list of some of the more important tire maintenance tips that will help improve performance and safety with every drive, ensuring you get the most out of your vehicle and tires.
Check The Air Pressure In Your Tires
First, it’s important that your tires have the correct tire pressure. Your tires air pressure contributes to the control and performance you have while driving (fuel and grip), and the tread wear and life of the tire. Checking your tire pressure regularly will increase the life of your tires and improve safety. So, what are you checking for?
Check Your Tires For Under-Inflation
Under-inflation is one of the most common tire issues, but one that is easily preventable. Varying temperatures can affect the rate at which your tires lose air. Cooler temperatures at night can actually drop your tires air pressure 4 to 6 PSI (pounds per square inch). If this isn’t monitored regularly, you’re more likely to drive on under inflated tires. Prolonged under inflation leads to premature tire wear and a possible tire blow out, if the issue is not properly taken care of.
Proper tire inflation is also a great way to avoid other issues down the road. By having your tires properly inflated at all times, you not only avoid the leading cause of tire failure, you’ll also save money on fuel and the need to purchase new tires sooner than expected.
For more information on air pressure and which “air” to use in your tires, read our post on Air vs. Nitrogen – Which Is Better For Your Tires?
It’s important to note, air pressure readings are most accurate when tires are completely cooled down.
Have Your Tires Rotated
In addition to improper inflation, the turning and maneuvering that occurs during driving contributes to uneven wear on tires. This makes it’s really important to distribute this stress evenly to all of your tires through consistent tire rotations.
Regular tire rotations will help your tires wear more evenly and maintain their traction and performance on all four corners. Please keep the following in mind:
- Some tires are designed to be rotated diagonally, meaning from one side to the other.
- Others tires can only be rotated from front to back. This is called directional rotation.
If you’re unsure what tire rotation pattern your vehicle requires, you can give us a call at 1-800-713-4728. We’ll gladly help you out!
Most tire manufacturers recommend tire rotation every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, but many drivers opt to have tire rotations done when they have their oil changed. Having your tires rotated during an oil change is an easy and convenient way to keep track of your tire maintenance schedule. And now, most oil change facilities will rotate your tires for a small charge.
Have Your Tires Balanced
Typically, tire balancing is done when you first purchase tires and is performed only once. But, this does not mean that your wheels and tires won’t become imbalanced during the normal operation of your vehicle. Whether or not your tires remain balanced is based on the type of wear your vehicle is subject to, including hard use, potholes, and rough roads.
One of the most common signs, and a dead giveaway, of a tire imbalance is increased vibration or rattling during certain (often higher) speeds. In most cases, re-balancing the tires is the right solution. Balancing your tires is also cheaper than purchasing new tires and will have a positive effect on the tires tread and life expectancy.
Get A Wheel And Tire Alignment
Wheel and tire alignments will also effect tire performance. Depending on your driving conditions and vehicle use, an alignment every 12 months, will not only help prolong the life or your tires, but also the life of your vehicle by reducing the stress that misaligned rims, wheels and tires place on your car or truck. Rims and tires should be taken in for alignment as often as is necessary, in addition to the above tire maintenance tips.
If your vehicle’s been subjected to a hard impact, potholes, rough roads or hard use, then it’s likely your vehicle is going to need regular alignments. This problem is unmistakable as it gets worse, and will cause your vehicle to pull, vibrate or sway from one side to the other.
These critical issues require immediate tire maintenance. If you have any questions about the alignment of your vehicle or the condition of your tires, a tire or wheel alignment professional should inspect your vehicle as soon as possible. This is especially true before you take any sort of road trip.
How Often Should You Check Your Tires?
If you’ve ever wondered how often you should check your tires you’re not alone. One recommendation is to check once every month. At Next Tires we believe it best to check more frequently. As part of your regular vehicle and tire maintenance, we want to encourage you to visually check your tires every week on Tire Check Tuesday.
By visually checking your tires regularly, you’re more likely to notice irregularities and have them corrected before something more costly or serious occurs. This only takes a few moments and could be the difference between a carefree drive to work or a costly detour.
As you grow more familiar with your vehicle, your wheels and tires, and what to look for, you’ll be able to better visually diagnose issues you may notice during your quick, weekly, walk-around inspections.
For more information on tire care, read our post on Buying New Tires For Your Car, including tips on how to check your tires tread depth.
Next Tires Is Committed To Helping You Save Time & Money!
Thank you for allowing us to share with you these tire maintenance tips at NextTires.com. Now you know a few more ways to take care of and extend the life of your tires!
If you have any questions regarding tire maintenance or if you’re shopping for new tires, Call Us at 1-800-713-4728. We’re here to help! You can also email us at support@nexttires.com. We’d like the opportunity to save you some money and win your business as a Next Tires customer! For a limited time, shop our new tires for sale and Save w/ Free Shipping and the Next Tires Risk Free Guarantee.** We look forward to speaking with and helping you with your next tires!
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