The tires on your vehicle affect both the quality of your ride as well as your safety on the roadways, so take these steps to keep them in good shape.
Keep an Eye on Tire Pressure
One of the most effective ways to care for your tires is also among the easiest. It pays to check your tire pressure each month to make sure they’re properly inflated. Tire gauges are an affordable investment, and most gas stations have air pumps to let you air up when necessary. When your tire pressure is wrong, it increases the wear and tear those tires are subjected to, and it can even increase the chance of a blowout on the road. Slack tires impact your handling as well, and they make it harder to slow down and stop when you apply the brakes. Keeping your tires properly inflated guards against all these issues, and it can also improve your gas mileage since your engine won’t have to work as hard to keep you moving.
Rotate Regularly
For most drivetrains, there are two wheels that do the bulk of the work, and this pair of tires bears the most friction from the pavement and brakes. As long as they’re in that wheel position, you can expect them to face more wear and tear as well, so you can prolong the life of your tires by swapping them out from the action to the more passive position on a regular basis. Aim to have your tires rotated every 5,000 miles to keep the wear more even across all of them. When you get your tires rotated, take the opportunity to have the wheels balanced as well. This will ensure that weight is distributed more evenly, and it will prevent your car from wobbling as you drive.
You might also like: Stand Out With These Winter Style Tips
Check the Wheel Alignment
Have you ever noticed your vehicle pull to one side? That could mean that your suspension is out of alignment. When that happens, your tires won’t roll straight ahead, as they might jut outward or lean inward at odd angles. This increases uneven wear, which can shorten the lifespan of those tires, so try to have your alignment checked a couple of times per year.
Disclaimer: The stock image is being used for illustrative purposes only, and it is not a direct representation of the business, recipe, or activity listed. Any person depicted in the stock image is a model.