Make Your Tires Last

May 25, 2016

How often should you rotate your tires? Do they have enough traction? When should you buy new ones?

As you already know, tires can be expensive and you want to make sure you get the most out of your purchase. And whether you’re a new or old vehicle owner, it’s important to know how to properly care for your tires to ensure they last.

Of course, a lot of tire wear depends on where you live and how you drive, but we have some general tips to get the maximum use out of your tires to keep both your tires and wallet full.

Check air pressure

You should check your tire pressure at least once a month. Make sure to use a tire pressure gage when the tires are cold and to check them in the morning or a few hours after the vehicle has been driven. Newer vehicles might have a tire pressure monitoring system, which will let you know whenever the pressure is low.

Rotate your tires

If you didn’t know already, rotating your tires ensures that they will wear evenly, which is the key to tire longevity. Most automakers recommend that you rotate your tires every 6,000-8,000 miles. This is a simple procedure that won’t take long.

Examine tires

Visually check your tires for any cuts or holes. Make it a habit to do a quick check when you stop at the pump. Your tire might not go flat immediately if there’s a nail, but can leak over time, leaving you stuck on the road. Repair small holes and completely replace any tires with large holes or abrasions.

Check alignment

Aligning your tires is best left to the professionals, however you can do a quick check at home to ensure everything’s good to go. You can check the wheel alignment by looking at the wear pattern on your tires. Make sure that you have 4/32” of an inch minimum of dread to maintain traction. Do the penny trick!

Avoid potholes

Pay more attention to the road when your driving. Although many potholes cannot be avoided, try to at least reduce your speed when driving over them, which will reduce impact to your tires. Properly inflated tires will not be as affected by bumps in the road as poorly inflated tires will be.

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