Your tires might be the part of your car you forget about the most, but they’re what literally keeps you rolling. When you take the best care possible of your car’s tires, that’s going to have an impact on the rest of the vehicle. Car Doctors Auto Repair advises the key areas you need to worry about are tread, air pressure, and alignment. Here’s how to best maintain your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s tires.
Check the Tread Regularly
Your tires’ tread is crucial. At least once a month, take a look at every one of your tires. You’re looking for anything that shows uneven wear on any tire or damage to the tread that could make it less effective. Look at the sidewalls, too, because damage there can lead to a flat. Uneven wear could point to mechanical issues, so if you spot those problems quickly then you can get them handled quickly.
Double Check the Air Pressure Often
Your owner’s manual will tell you what the optimal tire pressure is for your car, so make sure you look there first. Some cars also have a sticker inside the driver’s side door that has the same information. Even if you have automatic tire pressure readings on your dashboard, it’s a good idea to check it yourself. Those sensors can fail, misreading the tire pressure. If you check, too, you verify it’s correct.
Stick with a Tire Rotation Schedule
Your tires really do need to be rotated regularly. What this does is help to ensure even tread wear, which helps you get every penny back from what you spent on your tires. If you skip tire rotations, this can cause uneven tread wear and can contribute to other issues. When you get your tires rotated, make sure you get the wheels balanced, too. Regular balancing ensures that the wheels are hitting the road properly, also helping with tread wear.
Get an Alignment When Necessary
Wheel alignment is the last piece of the puzzle. When you hit a speed bump just a little bit too hard or consistently clip a curb, this affects how the wheel is situated. Wheels that are out of alignment affect tread wear, of course, but they also put pressure on the suspension system. Eventually, that system can break down, leaving you stranded.
Want to make sure your car’s tires and wheels are in the best shape possible? We can help at Car Doctors Auto Repair in Athens, GA. Give us a call and we can set up an appointment for you.
