Proper tire maintenance is one of the most important aspects of vehicle care, as your tires are the only part of your car that actually touch the road.
Keeping your tires in top shape through regular maintenance and care ensures maximum safety, performance, and longevity.
This article will provide an overview of the key elements of tire maintenance, so you can keep your tires rolling in peak condition.
We’ll cover checking and adjusting tire pressure, inspecting your tires for tread wear and damage, tire rotation, wheel alignment, when to replace tires, and some other maintenance tips.
We’ll also discuss how your driving habits can impact your tires, as well as some seasonal considerations for tire care.
Proper maintenance starts with understanding the importance of tire care basics, detecting issues early, and addressing any problems promptly.
Keeping on top of your tire maintenance guarantees you’ll get the most out of your tires, while avoiding any serious safety hazards from worn or damaged tires.
With some routine care and attention, your tires will deliver reliable performance for many miles.
Checking Tire Pressure
Proper tire pressure is essential for safe driving and maximizing your tires’ lifespan.
The recommended tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door jamb or in your owner’s manual.
It will list the pressure for both front and rear tires.
Use an accurate tire gauge to check each tire’s pressure, including the spare, at least once a month when the tires are cold.
If the tires are warm from driving, wait 3 hours before checking the pressure. Fill any under-inflated tires to the recommended PSI.
Over-inflated tires can reduce handling, braking traction, and ride comfort so do not over-fill.
Driving on under-inflated tires decreases fuel economy, causes uneven and accelerated tire wear, reduces handling and braking, and increases the chance of blowouts or other failures.
Severe under-inflation can lead to sidewall flexing and overheating which can cause sudden tire failure.
Check all tires regularly and fill when needed to maximize safety, performance, and tread life.
Inspecting Tire Tread
Tires require sufficient tread depth to maintain proper traction and safe driving.
The minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm, but experts recommend replacing tires when they reach 2-3mm of remaining tread.
This ensures you replace them before they become dangerously worn.
Checking your tires’ tread depth regularly is important. An easy way to check is by using the penny test.
Simply insert a penny into the tread grooves with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tires need to be replaced.
Tread wear bars built into the tires will also become visible when tread gets low, appearing as smooth bands across the width of the tires.
Watch for signs you need new tires like uneven or rapid tread wear, vibration or noise while driving, reduced traction in wet/snowy conditions, or visible damage like cracks or bulges in the sidewall.
If you notice any of these issues, have a professional inspect the tires. Waiting too long risks dangerous blowouts and reduced braking ability.
Replacing tires before they are excessively worn keeps you safe on the road. Check tread depth often and replace tires proactively.
With routine inspection and care, your tires will deliver reliable service for many miles.
Rotating Tires
Regularly rotating your tires is one of the easiest and most important maintenance tasks you can do to maximize the life of your tires.
By rotating your tires every 5,000-8,000 miles, you can help distribute wear more evenly across the tread and ensure your tires wear down at the same rate.
Benefits of Rotating Tires
There are several benefits to regularly rotating your tires:
- Helps tires wear evenly. Since some tires carry more load than others depending on which axle they are on, rotating evens out the wear across all four tires. This prevents uneven or irregular tire wear.
- Extends tire life. Even tread wear allows you to get the full life out of your tires before they need to be replaced. Rotating as recommended means you won’t have to replace them prematurely.
- Maintains handling and control. As tread wears down, traction, braking, and handling are negatively impacted. Rotating ensures maximum tread depth is maintained across all tires for optimal performance.
- Saves money. Getting the most mileage out of your tires before needing replacements saves you money in the long run.
Pattern for Rotating Tires
Most vehicles will follow one of two rotation patterns:
Front-to-Rear Cross Rotation: With this pattern, the front tires get swapped to the rear and vice versa in a crisscross pattern. The advantage is it allows all tires to experience front and rear axle wear for maximum evenness. This is common on front-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles.
Side-to-Side Rotation: Here the tires stay on the same axle but switch sides. The left tires move to the right side and vice versa. This pattern is typically used on rear-wheel drive vehicles.
Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual to confirm the proper rotation pattern recommended by the manufacturer. Marking the tires can help keep track of the rotation order. Be sure to get the tires rebalanced if rotating off the vehicle. With proper tire rotation, you’ll keep your tires in top shape for better performance, handling, and mileage.
Wheel Alignment
Proper wheel alignment is critical for the overall handling and safety of your vehicle.
Misaligned wheels can lead to uneven and accelerated tire wear, making them more prone to blowouts.
It can also cause your vehicle to pull in one direction, strain your suspension components, and reduce gas mileage.
Here are some signs your wheels may be misaligned:
- Your vehicle pulls to the left or right, even when driving straight on a flat road
- You notice uneven tire tread wear, such as more wear on the inside or outside edges
- The steering wheel is slightly off center when driving straight
- You feel vibration in the steering wheel, especially at certain speeds
- The vehicle drifts or wanders, requiring constant steering corrections to keep it going straight
Having a proper wheel alignment ensures all four wheels are aligned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the road.
This allows even distribution of weight and force across the tire tread, enhancing control, grip, and extending tire life.
The wheel alignment process involves placing your vehicle on an alignment rack and using precision equipment to check and adjust the angles of the wheels.
The three main angles adjusted are toe, camber, and caster. Toe refers to whether the wheels are pointed slightly inward or outward from front to back.
Camber is the inward or outward tilt from top to bottom. Caster is the angle of the steering pivot axis.
Experts recommend getting your wheel alignment checked at least once a year or after hitting a major pothole or curb.
Keeping your wheels aligned not only saves you money on tire wear, but also keeps your vehicle driving straight, tight, and secure.
Replacing Tires
Knowing when to replace your tires is important for safety and performance. There are two key factors that indicate when tire replacement is necessary:
Tread Wear – Tire treads provide grip on the road and help channel water away from the tire’s contact patch. As tires wear down, the tread depth decreases, reducing traction. The industry standard is to replace tires when tread depth is 2/32″ or less. Tires should be inspected regularly to check for uneven or abnormal wear, which may require earlier replacement.
Tire Age – Even if tread depth is still acceptable, the rubber compounds in tires degrade over time. The oils evaporate out of the rubber, making it less pliable and more prone to cracking. Most experts recommend replacing tires that are 6-10 years old, regardless of wear. The date of manufacture is printed on the sidewall.
When it’s time for new tires, select a set that matches your vehicle’s needs.
Key factors include tire size/dimensions, speed rating, load capacity, and intended usage such as highway driving, off-road, snow/ice, etc.
Consult your owner’s manual and talk to a reputable tire shop.
Replacing tires involves demounting the old tires from the wheels, followed by mounting and balancing the new tires.
Professional installation is highly recommended, as this requires special equipment to avoid damage and ensure proper fit.
The wheel alignment should also be checked after new tires are installed, to maximize performance and prevent uneven wear.
With the right tires properly installed, you can feel confident in your vehicle’s safety and handling.
Stay on top of regular inspections and replacement when needed. Investing in quality tires improves your driving experience for the long haul.
Other Maintenance
In addition to routine checks on your tires’ pressure and tread, a few other maintenance items will keep your tires rolling safely and smoothly.
Checking for Leaks, Damage, Wear: Carefully inspect the tire sidewalls and tread for any signs of damage, cracking, punctures, or uneven wear. Run your hand along the tread and sidewall to feel for any damage or leaks. Look closely for any nails, screws, glass, or other objects lodged in the tire that could cause a flat. Check the valve stems for cracking and make sure the valve caps are screwed on tightly. Replace any damaged valves.
Tire Balancing: Out-of-balance tires can lead to uneven and accelerated tread wear as well as wheel vibration at higher speeds. Every time you rotate or replace your tires, you should also have them balanced. Your local tire shop can check balance using computerized equipment and add small weights as needed to each wheel to ensure even rotation and balance.
Cleaning Wheels: Over time, brake dust and road grime accumulate on your wheels. Not only does this look unsightly, but it can lead to corrosion and damage on expensive alloy wheels. Whenever you rotate your tires, take time to wash your wheels thoroughly. Pay special attention to the wheel backs and inside the spokes and rims where gunk accumulates. Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasives. Rinse well and dry completely. With regular cleaning, your wheels will continue looking their best for many miles.
Driving Habits
Your driving habits can greatly affect how long your tires last. Aggressive driving in terms of speeding, hard braking, fast acceleration, and sharp turning can cause your tires to wear out faster.
Here are some tips on driving to extend the life of your tires:
- Obey the speed limit and avoid speeding as higher speeds generate more heat and friction, wearing down the tread quickly.
- Avoid hard braking and fast acceleration, easing onto the gas pedal and braking early and gradually instead. This reduces force and heat on the tires.
- Make smooth, gradual turns instead of sharp, sudden ones. Sharp turning scrubs the edges of the tread, wearing them rapidly.
- Avoid curbs and potholes when possible. Hitting curbs can damage tires and rims, while potholes put extra stress on sidewalls. Slow down and steer around them.
- Check tire pressure monthly and keep tires properly inflated. Underinflation causes excessive wear on the edges of the tread.
- Rotate tires every 5,000-8,000 miles to promote even wear. Front and back tires wear differently.
- Get wheel alignments done periodically to keep tires traveling straight rather than dragging at an angle.
- Lighten your load to avoid overloading your tires if possible. Extra weight puts more strain on them.
Developing good driving habits allows you to get the most life out of your tires, saving you money.
Extending tire life through proper driving helps you avoid premature replacements.
Seasonal Maintenance
The changing weather each season can impact your tires and require some seasonal maintenance.
Here are some tips for keeping your tires in top shape year-round:
Preparing Tires for Winter or Summer
- In winter, switch to winter or all-season tires for improved traction, braking, and handling in cold temperatures and snow/ice conditions. Winter tires are made of a softer rubber compound that provides better grip below 7°C.
- Lower your tire pressure in winter. The recommended psi is usually around 2-5 psi lower for winter tires as the colder air causes a decrease in tire pressure. Refer to your vehicle’s door jamb or owner’s manual.
- In summer, switch back to summer or all-season tires if you changed them for winter. Summer tires are made of a harder rubber compound designed to withstand warm pavement temperatures.
- Increase your tire pressure back to the recommended psi for summer tires. Hotter ambient temperatures cause the air pressure to increase.
Seasonal Hazards to be Aware Of
- In winter, be alert for ice, snow accumulation, and potholes that can damage tires. Avoid sudden braking/acceleration that can cause skidding.
- In summer, watch for underinflation and overheating tires which can cause blowouts. Hot pavement also increases the rate of tread wear.
- Year-round, avoid curbs, potholes, and objects in the road that can damage tires and affect alignment.
- Adjust your driving habits and speed according to the season. Allow extra stopping distance in winter weather.
Conclusion
Keeping your tires in top shape requires paying attention to several key maintenance practices.
Regularly checking tire pressure and tread, rotating tires, and getting wheel alignments are all critical to maximize tire life and safety.
Developing good driving habits, like avoiding potholes and curbs, also helps reduce tire wear.
Additionally, adjusting maintenance based on seasonal changes is important.
Inspecting tires more frequently in hot summer months when pressure fluctuates more, or increasing tread depth for winter snow and ice, helps keep tires in optimal shape year-round.
Routine tire care is essential because tires are your vehicle’s only point of contact with the road. Properly maintained tires improve handling, braking, and avoid blowouts or other failures that could lead to accidents.
By following the best practices outlined here for tire maintenance, you can keep your tires in top shape, promote safety, and extend the life of a major automotive investment.
