A blowout can have tragic consequences, which is why we here at Demore’s Automotive stress the importance of tire inspections and maintenance. If you keep an eye on your vehicle’s tires, you can catch problems at their onset before they cause too much damage, and we can take care of the professional stuff, such as rotations, balancing, and alignment. Let’s talk about tire maintenance and why it is important to your vehicle’s safety, handling, and fuel efficiency.
Check Your Tires Weekly
Take a moment every month to inspect your vehicle’s tires for signs of trouble. Look at the tire tread to see if it’s wearing down unevenly or has worn down completely. If you notice uneven tread wear, such as cupping or edge wear, you could have a wheel-balance or tire-inflation problem. Your vehicle could also be out of alignment, and this is what is causing the tire tread to wear down unevenly.
Check your tire’s air pressure bi-monthly. Make certain your tires are inflated to the recommended psi only. It’s best to use your own tire gauge rather than those on the service station’s air pumps. Those can be unreliable. Purchase a quality tire gauge and check the tire pressure on each tire when they are cold. The recommended psi can be found on a sticker inside your driver’s door. Add air if necessary. Driving on overinflated or underinflated tires can affect your gas mileage.
Tire Maintenance
When it’s time, bring your vehicle into our shop for factory-scheduled tire and wheel maintenance. The general rule of thumb for tire rotations is every 6,000 miles. This keeps the tires from wearing down unevenly. You see, your front tires and rear tires have different stressors, i.e. weight load, braking, steering, etc. Rotating them regularly keeps the tread wear even, as each tire deals with the stress.
As we’ve mentioned above, if your wheels are not aligned or balanced, you will reduce the life of your tires. Uneven tread wear weakens tires in certain points, and this weakening can cause the tires to blow out. Generally, your wheels should be balanced at each rotation, and you should have your wheels aligned every two-to-three years. There are general recommendations, however, and they can change depending on your driving habits, tires, and the tire manufacturer’s recommendations.
Located in Palmer, MA, Demore’s Automotive is a full-service automotive shop that works on all makes and models. We can keep your vehicle’s tires healthy and replace them when it’s time to do so. Set up an appointment by calling our shop today.
