How to get the most Life out of my Car Tires
Your car tires are critical for driving safety, and they're not cheap to replace when they wear out. To get the maximum wear out of tires, there are some basic rules to follow to achieve just that. Some folks ignore the basic maintenance necessary for longer tire life, hence they will shop at the tire store more often.
To get the most from your car tires there are three important guidelines to follow:
First and foremost: Check the air pressure on a regular basis. Nothing can wear a tire faster than incorrect air pressure. Having low air pressure means that more of the rubber of the tire is hitting the road, hence more wear. Not only is this bad, it is a safety issue, and your car will handle like crap as well. Purchase a good tire pressure gauge, and follow the correct air pressure settings indicated on the outside of the tire. You will see some numbers, such as 32 psi. The "psi" means, pounds per square inch, and that is what should be in your tires. There are some "green" theories about over-inflating the tires to get better gas mileage. Don't do it! The mileage obtained is minimal at best, and is dangerous at worst. Over-inflating your car tires is a risky practice, especially when driving on wet roads. This practice is highly discouraged.
Second: Make sure your wheels are aligned properly. Next to incorrect air pressure, nothing will wear your tires faster than having your car out of alignment. The way to check for this is to drive on the road around fifty-five miles per hour. Take your hands off the wheel momentarily, but keeping your hands close by just in case. If the car "pulls" to the right or left significantly, chances are your wheels are out of alignment. The first chance you get, take the car in to have those wheels aligned. Another way to check is to look at the tread of your front wheels. If there is excessive wear and tear either on the inside or the outside of the tire, you should have the car checked for proper alignment.
Third: Rotate your car tires. Especially if you had the misfortune of number two on this list, it's important to rotate those tires to try to extend whatever tread is left. For instance, if your front tires have worn either on the inside or the outside, rotating those tires or moving them from the front to the rear should maximize the tread that is left, and even out the tread-wear that is left.
The above are three important rules to follow for maximum tread life of your car tires. Try to get in the habit of following them, and your wallet will thank you.
