Tires are some of the most significant parts of any vehicle. The tires after all are the only surfaces directly connecting your car to the road. Think about it…the only thing preventing you from losing control of your car are those four small patches of rubber, so taking care of them is of the utmost importance.
It starts with how much you load into your vehicle. Proper loading will help your tires go a long way. Be careful not to overload as everything you put into your car counts as additional load and that is transferred to your tires. Luggage on top, a trailer, more passengers, everything gives your tires additional stress, so do not overload.
Then there is proper tire inflation. Most car owners don’t bother reading their car’s manual. Well, they should, as the proper “amount of air” for the front and rear tires are stated there.
Of course, even if you take care of your tires, you have to know what conditions they are in, and that’s were inspection comes in. You should check your tires at least once a month, and look for signs of uneven wear. Uneven wear may be caused by improper inflation, misalignment or other problems. When the tread is down to 1/16th of an inch, it means the tires must be replaced. Wear-bars, which are narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread appear at this point, and that is when tires should be replaced.
Just follow the simple tips listed above to keep your tires in tip-top shape, for your car and for your own safety.
Add A Comment