Have you reached the stage of adulting where you realize that there is more to know about tires than the simple fact that you need them?
Over the years, I have been slowly learning.
This past weekend, I had to order tires for Brian’s truck. Ouch! What a hit to the wallet!
If you own a vehicle, eventually you will be forced to fork over a tidy sum of money to purchase tires.
A small bit of basic tire maintenance will ensure that you get the most miles for your money.
Why are good tires important?
If you read no farther, please get this!
Tires that are in good condition are essential to the safety of a vehicle.
Tires that have deteriorated are a safety risk to you, your passengers, and other vehicles on the road.
Good tires allow your car to grip the road securely, stop in a reasonable amount of time and turn safely.
Bald tires, or almost bald tires (tires without much tread left) will have a difficult time doing any of that, creating a possible safety issue.
An investment in good tires is an investment in safety.
If forking out a few hundred dollars for tires is a hardship, open a sub-savings account to ensure the funds are available when needed.
Easy To Do Basic Tire Maintenance
Regularly check the tread on the tires.
What better way to learn that tires need good tread than to get stuck in a parking lot on a rainy day?!
Worn out tread reduces the friction between the tire and the road, resulting in a safety issue.
The minimum legal limit for much of the United States is 2/32 of an inch.
Tires become incrementally less safe as the tread wears down.
Although a lot of people use a penny to measure tread, I prefer to skip the guessing and use a handy dandy tire tread depth gauge.
A decent tire tread depth gauge can be purchased for under ten dollars and is small enough to keep in the glove box.
If you aren’t sure how to use it, ask an employee of the auto parts store to demonstrate.
Or of course you can always watch it You Tube!
If you are approaching the legal limit, it’s time to start shopping for tires.
Check the tire pressure.
Both overinflated and underinflated tires can cause issues.
Under inflated tires decreases fuel economy, compromises handling, and causes tread to wear unevenly.
Over inflated tires distort the tire’s shape causing the tires to wear unevenly.
Many convenience stores offer a free air pump where you can check tire pressure and fill as needed.
If you want a more accurate reading, check the tires when they are cold (meaning the car has sat for at least three hours).
Purchase an inexpensive pressure gauge to keep in your glove box if you want to check tires when they are cold.
Refer to the owner’s manual to see how much air you should keep in your tires.
Rotate and balance tires.
All four tires on a vehicle won’t wear in the same way or at the same speed.
Rotating and balancing tires regularly counteracts the uneven wear and increases the lifespan of the tire.
This requires special equipment that most of us don’t own.
Make an appointment with a garage to have tires rotated and balanced.
Check your owner’s manual to get the recommended rotation schedule for your vehicle.
A good rule of thumb is to have the tires rotated and balanced each time you get the oil changed.
Important to note: Some places offer free tire rotation if the tires are purchased from their shop. It’s worth considering that when comparing costs of tires.
Keep your vehicle aligned.
Signs of tread wearing out unevenly could be a clue that your car is due for an alignment.
Poor alignment can shorten the lifespan of your tires by thousands of miles.
When you have your tires rotated and balanced, ask if there are signs that your vehicle needs an alignment.
Just a little bit of easy to do basic tire maintenance will lengthen the life of your vehicle and save hundreds of dollars in the long run.
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