Proper tire care can help you avoid a lot of inconveniences such as a flat tire once in a while or driving a car with improper tire pressure which can be dangerous and possibly be costing you money at the pump since a tire with less air pressure than it should have means the engine has to work harder to move the car forward (more on this soon). Here are a few tips that can help you out.
Maintain proper pressure
One of the most important tire care tips is the maintenance of proper air pressure in your tires as just briefly stated. Underinflated tires can lead to an increase in rolling resistance which can lead to tire failure. It can also become the cause of a reduced fuel mileage, along with tire overheating, and making the tires more damage prone. Tires can lose a significant amount of air pressure without appearing to be flat; so, it’s important to check the air pressure in every few weeks.
This means you have to use a tire pressure gauge – you cannot tell if a tire is flat just by looking at it.
It will only take a few minutes of time but you’ll be able to avoid future hassles and save quite a bit too. Also, while you’re getting your tires checked, make sure you get your spare tire checked as well so that you don’t find it underinflated when you need it.
Regular rotation is necessary
Front-wheel drive cars are the most popular ones on the streets these days, and in cars like these, the front tires have to work harder that the rear ones. Theses tires have to bear the brunt of driving, steering, and breaking along with taking most of the weight of the engine.
This often leads to the front tires wearing out quicker than the ones behind them. If you have your tires rotated on a regular basis, you can save a lot of money on buying a new set of tires when just two are damaged by making sure they all wear out at the same time. Read your owner’s manual and check the manufacturer’s recommendations for the rotations and their patterns. If there aren’t any specifications, you should rotate the tires approximately every 5,000 miles.
Avoid the nitrogen
It’s common for tire retailers and car dealers to try and convince buyers that instead of using plain air to fill the tires, they should use nitrogen because, nitrogen can help maintain the tire pressure for a longer period of time. However, tests have shown that tires, separately filled with nitrogen and oxygen, lose air pressure at the same time and it doesn’t make a difference as to what you use.
So, unless nitrogen is available at a lower cost or for free, it’s pointless to spend additional money on it. The main point being, proper pressure checks are essential, no matter what else you do.
Keep your tread in check
An easy way to take care of your tires is to check the tread on your tire. Even if the tread on your tires is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, they should be replaced as soon as possible because they can no longer grip the road in inclement or wet weather.
You will find details about this in the owner’s manual. It also mentions the built-in tread wear indicators that look like narrow strips of rubber, which are sometimes referred to as “wear bars”, and their function to be visible on your tires when the tread on them reaches 1/16 of an inch.
Be well informed
When the time comes to replace your tires, it’s best to replace all four at once for a better all-round performance. It also looks better that way as well.
You need to look for tires with the highest traction and treadwear rated AA, A, B, or C, given that any tire rated under C is not considered to be acceptable for road travel. You can easily compare prices and specifications online and speak with someone about this to help you choose the tire that suits your requirements.