Tire Maintenance
As soon as you putnew tireson your vehicle, they begin the inevitable and continuous wear and tear process. However, that's not the bad part. Bad driving habits, failing to inspect your new tires from time to time, and neglecting your vehicle's alignment and suspension systems will considerably shorten the tires' service life. Instead, you can protect your investment by following some simple tasks that will help your tires last for miles to come.Driving habitsIncorporating good habits into your driving can go along way into extending the service life of your tires:* Start and stop your vehicle slowly to avoid dragging your tires on the asphalt.* Avoid over heating your tires by driving at the posted speed limits. Over heating your tires will place an unnecessary load on your tires that will accelerate wear and tear, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.* Drive slowly on rough roads to prevent wheel misalignment.* Try using tires of the same size and type on all four wheels.Inflation problemsImproper inflation is perhaps one of the most common problems affecting vehicle tires everywhere. Most drivers rarely check their tires'inflation pressureon a regular basis. Are you over inflating your tires? Eventually, you'll notice the tread center line wearing out faster than the rest of the tread. Under inflation will have the opposite effect. It'll cause the outer sides of the tread to wear faster than the center line.You can easily prevent this problem. Check inflation pressure as indicated in your car owner's manual at the suggested intervals. A rule of thumb is to set your tires to a cold inflation pressure of one to three pounds lower than the maximum inflation pressure indicated on your tire's sidewall.Alignment problemsBad alignmentand rapid tire wear go hand in hand, whether it is bad toe or camber.Toe is the difference in distance between the front and rear of each set of front or rear tires. Toe setting specifications vary between front-wheel- and rear-wheel-drive vehicles and control how the tires roll as your car moves. Thus, incorrect toe will drag your tires on the road and wear them out fast.Camber means how much your tires tilt inwards or outwards. You car manufacturer recommends specific camber settings for your particular vehicle model. When camber problems develop, you'll notice one side of the tread wearing faster.Suspension problemsJust like incorrect alignment, suspension problems-worn outshock absorbers, ball joints or out of balanced wheels-can take a toll on your tires. One sign that you have this type of problem is the appearance of a cup-or groove-wear pattern along one side of the tread on the affected tire(s).Paying attention to your tires, even for a few minutes now and then, can help extend your tires' service life. Check tire inflation pressure twice a month and correct it as necessary. Also, your car owner's manual will suggest rotating your tires at regular intervals, if necessary, to even out wear. Are you noticing an uneven wear pattern on any of your tires? Check for alignment, suspension or out of balance wheel problems using the checklist given in this guide to take care of your tires.
