Your tires play a vital role in the safe operation of your vehicle. They are also an expensive item, so extending their life is to your advantage; both for your pocket book and your safety. Here are some tips to extend the life of your tires and how to identify other problems that show themselves through tire wear:
- Tips:
Check your tire pressure on a regular basis. A lot of us mountain bike and road bike. Have you ever noticed that it’s normal to have to add a little air to your bike tires? Car tires are not too different and are affected by low or high tire pressure. If you’re unsure of your recommended tire pressure check inside the driver’s door and you’ll find a sticker that tells you your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure. Your tire will also have the recommended pressure for your tire stamped on the sidewall of the tire. If you’re unsure on how to check your tire pressure feel free to stop by the shop and we’ll drop what we’re doing and check yours for free. - Visually check your tire for:
- Uneven treadwear – In an ideal world your tires roll straight down the road and your tread in turn wears perfectly evenly. We’ve found that tires that are over or under inflated will wear unevenly. Additionally, if your tire tread is wearing only on one side you may have an issue with your alignment. Front end parts may also be worn, causing uneven tire wear. The front end of your vehicle is made up of calibrated parts and hitting a curb or just the age of the parts may cause this calibration to be out of spec.
- Tire Damage – We all drive over bits of metal and glass that have made its way onto the road. Most of these items do not cause significant damage to your tire, but some do and can go undetected if you’re not checking your tires regularly. You’ll want to look for small slices in the side wall, screw heads in the tread and bulges on both the inside and outside of the sidewall. If you find a screw or nail head in your tire do not try to remove it. It’s best to bring it to the shop because your tire may deflate when you remove it.
- Rotate your tires. This is something that is best done at the shop because when your tires are off your vehicle it’s a good idea to give your tires and your brakes a good once-over. Tires should be rotated about every 10,000km. Rotating your tires plays a huge role in extending the life of your tires. Plus, giving your tires a new position will keep them from getting bored and they’ll be more likely to happily pull you along.
Need help with your tires? Give us a call 403-762-1678.