6 Great Ways to Properly Maintain Your Tires

Normal Driving Habits to Maintain Your Tires



Knowing how to properly maintain your tires is very important and it begins with normal driving habits. Normal can be a loosely used term in most instances, but when it comes to driving, it refers to non-eccentric driving patters like not slamming on breaks often, peeling out or going off-roading. Normal driving habits can help with long-lasting tire life.

Rotating Tires

Tire rotation is an important aspect of proper tire care. It keeps the tread depth uniform, which can help improve braking and handling performance. It also helps reduce the wear on expensive drivetrain components. Ultimately, a properly rotated tire is safer for the driver and vehicle. It is also important to rotate tires periodically to avoid causing excessive tire noise.

Tire rotation is done by switching the front and rear tires and can be optimized by following a certain pattern. If you take your vehicle in for oil changes regularly, you can request that they rotate your tires. Most shops will keep a log of which tires were moved to where and if they were inner or outer facing during previous rotations.

Inflation Pressure to Maintain Your Tires

Proper tire inflation is essential for safety and performance. Incorrect tire pressure can compromise the load capacity of a vehicle, especially at high speeds or during long journeys. It can also affect handling characteristics, making it a dangerous practice. Tire manufacturers recommend using the proper inflation pressure as outlined within their product instructions.

Improper tire inflation will put undue stress on the vehicle and may lead to uneven wear and premature tire replacement. The incorrect inflation pressure can also cause a sudden tire failure and other negative consequences can ensue. Ensure proper tire inflation by checking the air with an air pressure gauge.

Checking Tread Depth

In order to properly maintain your tires, you should check their tread depth regularly. Most tires have an indicator bar embedded in the bottom of the tread grooves. If you notice that the bar has gotten too low, you should replace the tire as soon as possible. You can purchase a tread depth gauge from your local auto parts store or order one online – this one from Amazon is affordable and does the trick. These gauges will measure the tread depth of your tires in millimeters or 32nds of an inch.

Repairing a Puncture

This is beyond the point of knowing how to maintain your tires, but it’s still good to know! The process of repairing a tire puncture varies depending on the size of the puncture, where it is located and how quickly you detect the damage. However, there are certain guidelines you can follow for repairing most types of punctures. The most important thing is to keep the puncture within the tread area.

If the hole is any larger than this, you should replace the tire immediately. It will be pretty obvious is a puncture is repairable or not, even temporarily. An enormous puncture hole will not be able to be repaired safely even with a large patch. To avoid punctures, you will want to be sure to maintain your tires well.

There are two basic repair methods that can be used to fix a tire puncture. The first is called a plug and is an expandable plug that will seal the puncture. The second type of repair is called a patch and is made from rubber. The patch is designed to fill in the puncture while sealing the inner liner. These two methods can be combined to create a more effective.

Call us today if you would like an inspection of your tires or some more tips to maintain your tires!