How to Maintain a Tire

Tires may not make the car, but the car sure isn’t going anywhere without them. The safety of the driver and the occupants of a vehicle certainly rests in the condition of the tires. Fortunately, proper maintenance of your tires is easily accomplished. Follow a few simple strategies as indicated here to keep your tire in tip top shape.

Balance

Not only will balanced tires provide better safety, but also, it will extend the life of the tires and improve the performance of the car. Tires should be balanced at least once a year. Moreover, they should be balanced after any repairs that required their temporary removal from the vehicle.

Signs that your tires may need to be balanced anew include vibrations or signs of premature wear on the tires. Tires that are improperly balanced can decrease the performance of the car, cause unnecessary wear on the vehicle’s suspension, cause unnecessary wear on the vehicle’s tires, and cause the driver to experience unnecessary fatigue.

Alignment

Proper alignment is also an essential ingredient for the safety of the driver and occupants of any vehicle. A vehicle that has proper alignment will experience even tread wear and very precise steering capability.

A properly aligned vehicle has sound steering and suspension. Additionally, tire and wheel assembly runs straight. Signs of misalignment in your vehicle include uneven wear on either the front tires or the rear tires, changes in the way your vehicle performs, or changes in your ability to steer the vehicle.

Proper inflation

Properly inflated tires are one of the most critical elements for the safety of a vehicle. Driving with under inflated or over inflated tires is never a good idea. Check the air pressure of your tires on a regular basis, at least once a month since that is all it takes for the air pressure to change within a tire.

Under inflated tires can increase the tread wear on the outside edges of your tires. Plus, the tire’s durability is put to the test since under inflation also causes increased heat to the tire. Moreover, under inflated tires are softer in composition and that causes an increase in the resistance of the tires to movement. This, in turn, reduces the economy of your fuel consumption.

Over inflated tires can increase the tread wear on the center of your tires. No matter how you obtain it, uneven tread wear on your tires will reduce the life of the tires, requiring them to be replaced earlier than they should have needed to be replaced.

To check whether you have the proper air pressure in your tires, you need to know what it should be. Look in your owner’s manual if you have it. You can also check the driver’s side of the vehicle in the doorjamb. If it isn’t located there either, check with the manufacturer of the car or online. Use an air gauge with good quality. Make sure that any dealer who replaces your tires for you checks the air pressure of the tires for you.

Regular rotation

If you want to achieve even tread wear on your tires, then you need to rotate your tires. The weight of the vehicle is not evenly distributed on the tires, and this necessitates rotating them to produce even tread wear.

The manufacturer’s recommended method of rotation is usually listed in your vehicle’s manual. Additionally, the manufacturer usually lists a specified time recommendation for rotation. If you cannot find this information, consider rotating your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. However, four wheel drive vehicles may need to have their tires rotates every 4,000 miles. Remember to check your tires inflation level after every rotation.

Several methods exist for rotating your tires as follows:

• All season tires are rotated using a modified “x” pattern. The front tires are taken from the drive axel and moved directly back to the rear axel on the same side from which they were taken. The rear tires are moved from the rear axels and placed on the front axels, but on the opposite side from which they were taken.
• Tires with a directional design are simply rotated from front to back and back to front, while remaining on the same side as they originated.
• Tires on four wheel drive vehicles are usually switched on all counts. The rear tires move to the front on opposite sides from which they originated, and the front tires move to the rear on opposite sides from which they originated.

Visual Inspection

Each time you check the air pressure on your tires, which should be once a month, you should make a visual inspection of your tires. Check for small objects that have become imbedded in your tires. Make note of the wear patterns of your tires. Check the depth of your tread to make sure that it is still road worthy. Remember that a small bit of time spent on giving your tires a once over for potential problems may end up caving your life.

Fast Facts:

• Maintain balanced tires.
• Maintain proper alignment.
• Maintain proper air pressure in your tires.
• Rotate your tires according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.