The Importance of Wheel and Tire Care

Your tires are the only parts of your car that are in daily contact with the road. It’s important to regularly inspect and maintain the tread, pressure and alignment of your tires because poorly maintained tires are not only a safety issue, they can also cost you money and reduce your vehicle’s performance.

If you want your tires to perform well and last as long as possible, keep an eye out for these issues:

• Over-inflation: An over-inflated tire makes contact with the road down the middle of its surface, rather than from edge to edge. This can cause premature and uneven wearing, making tires more susceptible to punctures and blowouts.
• Under-inflation: Under-inflated tires will cost you money because they cause your engine to work harder to move the vehicle, reducing your gas mileage. The edges of under-inflated tires also wear down faster than they should.
• Uneven wear: When your wheels are out of alignment, your tires aren’t able to make even contact with the road. This causes uneven wearing, which shortens the life of your tires.
• Erratic tread wear: Also known as cupping, erratic tread wear can be a sign of poor suspension or imbalanced wheels.
• Vibrations while driving: If you feel vibrations when you drive, one of your tires may have a bald spot or be out of balance.
• Pulling to one side: If you can feel your vehicle pulling to one side as you drive, it may mean one of your tires is damaged or under-inflated.

If you are experiencing any of these issues, or if you see balding, bubbling, or inflation problems when inspecting your tires, it’s important to make an appointment to have your tires inspected or replaced immediately. Poorly performing or damaged tires are a safety concern.

It may be tempting to put off tire maintenance on your car until it’s necessary to replace them, but that will end up costing you more in the long run. Tires that are maintained, aligned, and rotated regularly all wear down at the same pace. That means you can replace them all at once, which often means you’ll get a discount on your full set of tires. Properly maintained tires will also save you money via improved gas mileage because they support your engine in working efficiently. 

When inflating your tires, go by the PSi listed on the inside of your car door, not the one on the tire itself. Different makes and models of vehicles require different recommended tire pressure. Following the car’s guidelines will prevent you from over-or under-inflating your tires and dealing with the associated problems.

Your tire tread also needs to be inspected monthly. A tread measure is an easy-to-use tool that can be stored in your glove compartment. It will give you a visual warning if your tire tread has worn too low. If you don’t have a tread measure, you can use a quarter. Place the quarter so Washington’s head is facing down. If the top of his head isn’t visible, your tires have the appropriate tread depth. If, however, you can see the top of his head, your tires are unsafe and need to be replaced. You can get a ticket for thin tread, but more importantly, you may also have difficulty stopping safety. 

Boyce Auto Repair provides standard wheel and tire care for all vehicles. These services include: 

• Wheel alignment 
• Tire inspection
• Mounting
• Balancing
• Rotation
• Repairs