Spring break road trips are just around the corner. You’ve probably already made arrangements for your upcoming travels. But have you checked your tires? You wouldn’t want to have tire troubles during this time, right?
Did you ever notice that tires are the only part of your car that has direct contact with the road? Many car owners often neglect their tires. Proper tire maintenance is important. It can improve handling and fuel economy. It will also make your ride a lot safer.
Ideally, you should inspect your tires at least once a month. If you drive long distances, drive over dirt roads or potholes; or live in an area with cold climate, you should check your tires more often. You need to check for signs that may indicate whether you need to replace or repair your tires:
- Check your tire pressure
You must use an accurate tire pressure gauge when you check your tire pressure. You can’t tell if your tires have enough pressure just by looking at them. You also need to check your tire pressure before you drive your vehicle when your tires are cool. Checking tire pressure that has warm tires may result in a pressure reading of up to 5 psi higher than the recommended pressure. You can find your car’s recommended inflation pressure for your tires in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
If your tires are under or over-inflated, they will wear out easily. Under-inflated tires increase your fuel consumption and will make it harder for you to handle your vehicle. Worse, improperly inflated tires may cause you to have an accident.
- Check your wheel alignment
Each vehicle has specific wheel alignment settings. However, if you experienced a bad jolt from hitting a pothole or the curb, for example, you need to have an auto expert check the alignment of your wheels.
Misalignment will cause uneven tire wear and this will increase your fuel consumption and the handling of your vehicle may be affected negatively.
- Tires should be properly balanced
If your tires are not properly balanced, this will result in uneven wear and tear. This can decrease the life of your tires.
- Check your tire rotation
To ensure that you gain maximum performance from your tires, you need to rotate them so that you can even out the differences of the weight each tire carries. Each tire of your vehicle operates at different loads. The front and rear tires also have different steering and braking functions which usually result in unequal wear patterns. Tire rotation should be performed every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. If you see uneven wear, however, you need to rotate your tires even if you have not reached the 5,000-mile mark.
- Check your tire tread
Your tire tread gives you traction to stop and hold onto the road – especially on curves. Tires should be replaced when worn to 2/32 inch (1.6 mm.) tread depth anywhere on the tread face. To check the tread of your tire, you can try the “penny test.” Place a penny in the tire’s most worn out groove with the Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of the Lincoln’s head, your tire should be replaced.
Tires are designed to provide vehicle owners with several miles of great service. But, if you want to reap these benefits, you need to make sure that your tires have proper maintenance.
So, before you go out on your big road trip, make sure that your tires are in excellent condition. And, the best way to do this is to bring your vehicle to auto experts at Dallas European Auto.
Dallas European Auto is a fully-certified auto repair shop that specializes in domestic and foreign automobiles. We are located in West Plano, Texas.
Our experts have a combined 40 years of experience and we are accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
At Dallas European Auto, we don’t offer services you don’t need, and we are known for providing top-notch service at the most affordable prices in the area.
Contact us at 214-504-1528 or visit us at 605 Digital Dr., Plano, Texas 75075
