Keeping Your Car Tires in Check: 7 Essentials to Know

It is usually costly to get new tires. That is why it is important to take good care of your tires so they will last longer, thus, cost you less money to replace. Many people tend to focus more on taking care of the body of their vehicles and pay little to no attention to their tires.

Maintaining your tires is just as important as doing oil checks or buying gas. You need your tires to get around so you must ensure they are in good condition and ready to take on the road. Purchasing high quality tires such as titan tires is the first step – then maintain them. Here are 7 things you must do to maintain your tires.

1. Check your tire pressure monthly

You should check your tire pressure a minimum of once monthly. Your tires can lose about one pound per square inch of air each month. The colder the climate, the more air your tires are liable to lose. So, you should not wait until your mechanic is doing tire rotations or oil changes to check on your tire pressure. You could be endangering yourself and others.

The cause of most tire-related accidents is underinflated tires. This is according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Underinflated tires reduce vehicle handling. They also decrease gas mileage and can cause a disastrous blowout. You must know what the correct tyre pressure for your car is.

2. Frequently inspect your tires

Physical inspection of your car’s tires is a must. You shouldn’t be afraid to get as low as possible to do a thorough inspection. However, you have to know what to look for or you’ll just be wasting your time. Make sure to check your tires for any bulges or cracks. You must also inspect your tires for anything that may have punctured them. These include screws, stones, glass, or snails.

You must carefully inspect your tires before going on a long road trip. It’s best to do this before leaving home. It is much easier to do this in your garage or driveway than on the side of a busy highway after the fact.

3. Rotate your tires

Rotating your tires will help to balance tire wear. To rotate your tires simply means to reposition them. Most vehicle manufacturers include instructions for tire rotations in the owner’s manual. You can follow an X-pattern when rotating your tires. All you have to do is to move each tire to the opposite side. For example, move the rear tire on the left to the front position on the right and vice versa.

The tires that experience the most wear over time is dependent on the type of vehicle. Some vehicles put more pressure on the front tires while others pressure the rear tires. So, the rear tires of commercial trucks typically wear faster than the front tires. This is because these types of vehicles turn on the front-drive axel, therefore, friction on the rear tires is increased. This causes more wear to the tires.

4. Avoid overloading your vehicle

When you overload your vehicle the weight places extra pressure on your tires. This can increase friction and cause your tires to wear faster. Also, when you overload your vehicle, you risk tire failure.

There should be a placard on the door frame of your car that has information about the appropriate weight your vehicle can safely manage. You must take note of this to avoid overloading your car. This will allow your tires to stay in good condition longer.

5. Don’t wait to replace your tires

A common mistake many vehicle owners make is waiting until their tires are screaming for help before they replace them. It’s no secret that tires are expensive even with amazing tyre deals. You probably hate buying them. However, it’s not safe to drive on tires that are worn out. You will be putting yourself and your passengers in peril.

There are a few things you can use to determine if it’s time to change your tires. If you look closely, you’ll notice that your car has a wear bar between the tire treads. If the depth of your tire tread is at or below this bar, it means you need new tires. There is also a penny trick that you can use. So, don’t wait too long to replace your tires.

6. Avoid rough terrains as much as possible

Driving on rough or rocky roads risks damaging your tires. Rough terrain is one of the most common reasons for tire damage. When you drive on surfaces that are rough or rocky, more pressure is placed on your tires. This will cause them to become thinner over time and unable to support your vehicle’s weight. You also risk puncturing your tires which will force you to buy new ones. Avoid rough terrains so your tires will last longer.

7. Practice good driving habits

How you drive will affect the longevity of your tires. Things like frequent hard braking, acceleration, and cornering will damage your tires. This is because when you do these you increase friction. This will cause your tires to tread and deteriorate faster.

Tires are expensive so you have to take good care of them so they last longer. Following the 7 tips listed above will extend the life of your tires. Make sure you take all the necessary steps to maintain your tires.