Tires are an essential part of your vehicle. They carry the entire weight of the car, as such you must take care of them regularly. Aside from your maintenance habits, your driving habits also affect the life of your tires.
- Rotate your tires regularly – Each tire and wheel is removed from your car and set in a different position. This extends the life of your tires by making sure the all of them wear evenly. It is recommended that this be done every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. If you have a full-sized spare, you should also include this in the rotation.
- Check for proper air pressure – Decreased air pressure doesn’t only affect your fuel economy; it also shortens the life of your tires. Check pressure at least once a month. Your car’s manual should indicate the proper psi (pounds per square inch) required.
- Get your car alignment checked – Impacts such as dips, potholes and railroads happen on a daily basis. Some are more sever and can affect your vehicles alignment. If you’ve hit something, you see a wear pattern developing on the shoulder of your tires or you notice a difference in your car’s handling, then it’s time to get your car aligned.
- Check for vibration or irregular treadwear – These may be signs that its time to balance your wheels (or get an alignment). Balancing means compensating for the weight of the tire and the wheel after it has been mounted. If a wheel is out of balance, then one area is heavier than the rest and can cause off-centre treadwear.
- Don’t overload your car – Your car’s owners manual should specify the load limit. Overloading places stress on our tires and other vehicle components. It can cause tire failure, decrease fuel economy and cause poor handling.
Post a Comment