Don’t Get Stranded With A Flat
I’ve been in the auto industry for 25+ years. Spanning from diesel mechanic to building septic trucks, I’ve seen tires that met there end way too soon. It is usually from a lack of knowledge. Below are some valuable tips on on how to avoid wear and tear on your vehicle tires that I have learned over the years. By trying some of these tips, you may likely increase the lifespan of your tires. Ensuring a smoother ride for you and your passengers.
Check and Maintain Proper Tire Pressure
Each vehicle has a recommended tire pressure range specified by the manufacturer. Make sure to maintain this range to prevent excessive wear on your tires. Driving with underinflated or overinflated tires can lead to uneven tread wear and reduce fuel efficiency.
Now, if your wheels/rims are aftermarket, go off of the tires recommended max psi. It located on the wall of the tire. Pictured on the left outlined in BLUE is an example of what you’ll be looking for. The text on the door sticker is small, so you could miss it without binoculars (what I call my glasses) unless your eyes are better than mine. Make sure your reading the correct numbers and you should be all good. Check your tire pressure regularly, and glance at each tire to see if one looks lower than the other. If it looks off to your natural eye, whip out the air pressure gauge and test the pressure.
Rotate Your Tires for Even Wear/Longer Life
Uneven tire wear is another common problem that can be avoided. Setting up a schedule to coincide with other services that are consistently performed works really well. The most common service to schedule around is every other oil change. Rotating your tires helps distribute the wear evenly across all four tires. Depending on your vehicle Model/Make, the rotation pattern may vary. Refer to your vehicle’s manual or a trusted mechanic.
Tire/Wheel Alignment
Have you ever hit a curb, pothole or rough roads? If so, it is possible that your wheels are misaligned. When your alignment is off, it will cause uneven wear on your tires. If left as-is, larger issues will arise. This will cost you more money and larger issues around your vehicle’s steering and suspension.
Some strong signs of improper alignment is off are:
- Vehicle pulls to one side
- Uneven wear
- Steering wheel is crooked while driving straight
- and a shaky or vibrating steering wheel
Whenever your notice signs misalignment, like in the examples above, it’s important to have your wheels aligned by a professional. Proper wheel alignment not only prevents unnecessary wear on your tires but also enhances overall vehicle performance. By keeping these signs in mind and repairing them as soon as possible, it will save you in the long run.
Avoid Overloading Your Car/Truck
Exceeding the load capacity of your vehicle puts excessive strain on your tires. This will lead to faster wear and tear to your tires.
Before embarking on a long trip or carrying heavy loads, check your vehicle’s load capacity specifications in the owner’s manual or look for a sticker in the drivers door as pictured to the LEFT. Be sure to distribute the weight evenly throughout the vehicle. If necessary, consider using additional cargo hauler such as a trailer, roof racks, or anything you can tow behind. By adhering to the specified load limits that you will find usually in your drivers door jam when you open the drivers door, you’ll protect your tires from premature damage and ensure a safer driving experience for yourself and others on the road.
Ending thoughts
Taking care of your automobile tires is to maintain both safety and longevity. By following these tips and performing regular maintenance, including checking tire pressure, rotating tires, maintaining proper wheel alignment, and avoiding overloading your vehicle, you can significantly reduce wear and tear on your tires. Remember, prevention is always better than cure when it comes to automobile maintenance. In the long run, it will safe you money! So, invest some time and effort into caring for your tires, and they will reward you with a smooth and comfortable ride for miles to come. Safe Travels!
