Proper Tire Care and Maintenance

Saving money by getting the most life out of a set of tires is one reason to take good care of tires. Another extremely important factor is safety. Improperly maintain tires that aren’t wearing evenly could lead to safety issues. As the Michelin Man says “there’s a lot riding on your tires”.

Routine Tire Rotations

When tires are rotated they are normally switched from the front to the rear and vise versa. Rotating tires helps the tires wear more evenly because the wear characteristics of a tire are different on the front axle than it is on the rear axle.

Evenly worn tires will last longer and are much safer for traction on the road then unevenly worn tires. Having to replace two worn tires instead of all four tires is usually a sign that the tires were not routinely rotated.

Routinely rotating tires as part of a vehicle maintenance schedule is important not only to enhance the life of the tires but also to ensure they wear evenly for safety reasons. To get more life out of a set of tires they should be rotated every time the cars engine oil gets changed. Rotating tires in conjunction with an oil change every 5,000 miles is an inexpensive insurance policy for longer lasting tires.

Tips on Routine Self-Tire Inspections

Inspecting your own tires as a routine every other week is a good practice for tire care. For just a few dollars a tire pressure gauge and tire depth gauge is a good tool investment to properly self-inspect tires. Here are a few tips on what to look for when inspecting tires.

• Tire Pressure or PSI. Check the tire pressure of each tire with a pressure gauge to ensure the proper setting. Add or release air in the tire as necessary. Refer to the car owner’s manual or tire specs usually found inside one of the cars door jams for the proper tire pressure. Do not go by the PSI listed on the tire. The PSI listed on the tire is the maximum PSI rating listed by the tire manufacturer.
• Tire Tread Depth. Check the tread depth of each tire using a tire depth gauge. Insert the extended prong into the tire tread until the tool bottom rests on the outer side of the tire. The measurements are in 32nd of an inch and anything below 3/32nd should be replaced. Tread depth on new tires can vary from one brand tire to another but are usually about 11/32nd.
• Visually Inspect Each Tire. Visually inspect each tire and look for any objects that may have punctured the tire. Look for uneven tread wear on the inner, outer, middle of the tread or uneven choppy tread wear. Any of these conditions are a result of another problem with the vehicle that needs to be addressed (read on).

Identifying Causes of Uneven Tire Tread Wear

• Inner or Outer Tire Tread Wear. A misaligned vehicle usually causes outer or inner tire tread wear. When a vehicle isn’t aligned properly, the majority of the vehicle weight can be placed on the inner or outer tread of the tire instead of evenly across the tire tread. If this symptom occurs the vehicle needs to be aligned.
• Inner and Outer Tire Tread Wear. If both the inner and outer sections of the tire tread are worn this is usually caused by under-inflated tires. Check the tire pressure and adjust as necessary/
• Middle Section Worn Tread. This is usually caused by overinflated tires. When a tire is over-inflated it can cause a bulge in the middle of the tire that gets worn faster. Release tire pressure as necessary to proper inflation.
• Choppy or Spotted Tread Wear. If the tire’s tread is choppy or worn in spots this symptom is usually caused by worn shocks. The main purpose of a car’s shocks is to keep the car’s springs from continuously recoiling over bumps. Worn shocks will cause a vehicle to bounce up and down excessively creating choppy or spotted tread. If this symptom occurs it may be time to replace the shocks.

Following these simple steps of tire care and maintenance will only improve the life of the tires. Adhering to these procedures will help create a more worry-free driving experience. If it’s time to replace your tires it’s important to choose the right tire.