Let’s imagine that you are happily driving on a long road trip. Suddenly, Boom!!! Your tires are punctured!
It will be a nightmare because driving is really dangerous when you totally rely on four tires with a contact patch the size of your hands and hope that they can keep you safe while you are traveling down the road.
Moreover, you have to be honest that getting your tires replaced can be a real pain because of the big bucks you have to pay.
For all of those annoyances above, maintaining your tires is a critical task. Today, I will tell you about some top tips to extend the life of your car tires.
5 Top tips to maintain your car tires
Choosing the right tires
Picking the right car tires is a vital decision, because your safety, as well as the longevity of your tires, will be determined by this decision. However, buying tires can be easy but finding the right ones for your car is not. The first tips will give you some information and suggestion that will ensure you select tires that match your vehicle.
- Selecting quality companies with a broad range of brands is recommended.
- Ensuring the best product and customer service by verifying that all technicians are well trained and knowledgeable.
- Choosing the right size tire by looking in the owner’s manual.
- Learning about the range of tire options available. Factors that need to be considered include the terrain being driven on, the speed being driven, and the average amount of miles being driven.
- Considering the weather conditions where you live to decide whether you need summer tires, winter tires, or all-season tire.
Checking tire pressure
Tire pressure is the amount of air in a car’s tires, measured by the number of pounds per inch of tire.
Tires may naturally lose air over time, about one pound per square inch of air (PSI) per month, and can lose even more in cold weather climates. It is recommended that you should check your tire pressure once a month if you want to ensure your safety, as long as the longevity of your tires.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, underinflated tires are the leading cause of tire-related crashes. Underinflated tires run hotter, which causes the tires to wear away much more quickly. On the other hand, over-inflation may cause extensive tread wear in the center of the tire, makes tires bounce and cannot absorb shocks, or cannot reduce traction.
Maintaining the correct air pressure can help you to avoid problems with branking and stopping, which is particularly dangerous and could potentially be life-threatening. It will bring you smooth rides with safety driving conditions. In addition, it can also help you save money on gas, and extend your tires life.
Inspecting your tires regularly
Roads are full of debris, some of which is sharp such as glass, pieces of metal and nails, which may not cause an immediate flat tire, but could result in a slow leak of tire pressure or a future flat tire.
Checking tire pressure regularly and consistently is one of the best ways to keep your safety, as well as the life of the tires themselves.
Check your tire pressure and inspect your tires before you take any long trip. You might not notice a difference or change in your travel until the tire damage is permanent because damage to a tire is not always immediately apparent. And it will be a big annoyance when you need to stop in the middle of the trip to replace your tires. Therefore, you had better inspect them at home.
Learning the warning signs of potential damage to tires is required to ensure their longevity. You can get down on your hands and knees to do your inspection. Things to look for include cracks, bulges, and objects that may have punctured the tire, such as nails, screws, glass, or stones. If you find out the problem, you can prevent permanent tire damage.
Having your tires inspected by a trained professional mechanic is also important. A knowledgeable technician can recommend patching a tire instead of purchasing a new one to save you money, can tell you when you need to replace tires and give you bits of advice to protect the lifespan of a tire.
While inspecting tires, you also need to keep them clean and free of waste. Cleaning them regularly contribute to maintaining better tire traction, it will also help improve the overall appearance of the car.
Rotate your tire
Tire rotation means changing where an individual tire is mounted on the car.
It’s recommended that you rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles to maintain even tread wear and to get the maximum life out of your tires. Rotating tires keeps them from wearing unevenly, which will make your ride smoother and safer. And it extends the life of your tires, saving you time and money in the long run.
Don’t wait until your tires are on their death bed to replace. Tires are expensive but driving on your tires past their useful life can be very dangerous for you and your family.
Do not overload your vehicle
Refrain from Overloading the Vehicle because it can directly relate to car tires. A very heavy load can put a lot of weight on the tires and can be a safety hazard. In addition, while driving, high temperatures can build up and causes severe and very sudden tire damage.
Check the tire information placard or owner’s manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle, especially before any long trip. Located on the placard on your door frame is information on how much weight your vehicle can safely handle. Once you’ve known about weight capacity for individual cars, you can prevent heat buildup that could cause danger and permanent tire complications and problems.
Conclusion
Alvin Reyes has expertise in automotive evaluation. He collaborated with famous newspapers and is still making efforts in tire review for DrivingPress.com
My husband and I are trying to find ways to save money on our car. I appreciate your advice that our tires need to be rotated every 6000-8000 miles so that they wear more evenly. This will definitely save us money in the end, if it will extend the life of our tires!
Thanks for pointing out that rotating tires keeps them from wearing unevenly, which will make your ride smoother and safer. I think I need to get my tires rotated soon because I haven\’t had it done since I got this car and it\’s been a while. I think it would just help make sure that my tires are going to last longer and also that I\’m going to be safer on the road.
Thank you for the great tips about how to maintain tires. My sister has been wanting to get new tires for a while now. The ones that she has right now are really beat up!
This blog explains the expert’s advice for the car tires and how to choose the quality of our cars. I just got my first car and so I am not used to taking care of my tires. I know that it is important to make sure that the air pressure is at a certain point. However, how do I know how high my air pressure should be? Also, I would be interested in knowing at what point is there too little air pressure as well.
Really great & useful Article I really wish I had read this earlier than I wouldn\’t have had to change them now. Can you give me any tips on what to look for when buying new tires?
Thanks for the tips on how to take care of your tires. I am thinking about having new tires installed on my car. I will have to make sure to have them inspected regularly like you suggested.
I didn\’t know that you could extend the lifespan of your tires by checking their pressure monthly. My uncle is interested in going on a business trip this summer and needs to find some durable tires that will be able to remain undamaged when driving on rough terrains. He should learn how to take care of his tires before he decides to buy a set.