If years of vehicle ownership has taught me anything, it is that you can't be too careful about maintaining your vehicle. I started focusing more seriously on automotive care after losing several cars within a period of a few years, and it was really frustrating. I wanted to keep my car clean, functional, and comfortable, so I started working towards learning the tricks of the trade. Within a few months I was able to learn almost everything there was to know about interior car maintenance, and I wanted to make a website to help other people. Check out these helpful articles to learn more.
Tire maintenance is probably one of the most neglected things on most cars and trucks on the road. The tires on your vehicle need regular care if you want them to last and perform the way they are designed to. Maintaining the tires on your car is not hard, but there are some things that you need to know to get the most from your tires.
Air Pressure
The amount of air pressure in your tires is one of the most critical things that dictate how the tire will wear and how it will perform when you are driving. Tires that are underinflated often make the car drive poorly. They allow the vehicle to wander and be under-responsive to steering input from the driver.
Overinflated tires will not feel squishy, but they do not have as much contact with the road and can perform poorly in wet conditions.
Checking the tire pressure regularly is a critical part of tire maintenance that is often overlooked. If the tires remain underinflated for an extended period, the edges of the tread will wear out much faster than the rest of the tire and wear through to the steel belts more quickly.
Overinflated tires will wear out quickly in the center of the tread and eventually develop spots where the steel from the tire's belts will start to show through the tread. The tread area becomes very thin, and the traction is reduced as a result of the wear.
The air pressure should be checked regularly and adjusted as needed. If it is low, add some air to the tires, and if it is too high, reduce the pressure until they are in the optimal inflation range on the tire. If you can't find the pressure range on the tire, take a look at your vehicle's owner's manual for the suggested tire pressure from the manufacturer.
Tire Rotation
The tires on your car or truck should be rotated regularly to ensure that the wear on the tires stays even. Tire maintenance guidelines are listed in the owner's manual, and most suggest that the tires are rotated with every other oil change.
If you request a tire rotation when you take your vehicle in for the oil change, you can often get a package price that is cheaper than doing the rotation by itself, and you may find some shops that will include a tire rotation free with the oil and filter change.
If the shop you are working with does not suggest rotating the tires with the oil change, you can request that they do it when you take the car in.
To learn more about tire maintenance, reach out to a local auto shop.
Share28 October 2020
