Tire care is a critical aspect of routine maintenance for any car. Your car tires are the only portion of your vehicle which are in constant contact with the road surface.
Regardless of the kind of roads you drive on (good, bad, dirt), your tires are bound to experience damage from wear over time.
Damage to your car tires can also come in other forms. For example, if you are not careful about checking and maintaining the recommended tire pressure, you could easily suffer a blow out or find it difficult to maneuver your vehicle.
You certainly don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road during a Tucson summer! Not even at night, that’s when the snakes and spiders come out.
Even your driving habits can have an impact on your car tires. Constantly speeding, riding rough on bad roads, or riding your brake pedal can lead to faster wear damage. Not to mention the damage it can cause to your car engine.
For these reasons, taking care of your car tires should be a major aspect of preventive maintenance and over all car-care. Here are a few important considerations to keep in mind when it comes to taking care of your car tires.
Maintaining the Recommended Tire Pressure
As mentioned above, tires can suffer wear due to bad roads, friction, heat, as well as speeding. However, if you are not careful about checking and maintaining the recommended tire pressure, then the damage can be far worse.
Did you know that low tire pressure is among the most common reasons behind tire blow-outs? Driving with low pressure tires also affects the engine and can impact fuel economy. Car tires with low pressure are also more vulnerable to damage from overheating.
When you drive at high speeds, overheating can cause a chemical breakdown of the tires and lead to tire blowouts. Controlling and maneuvering your car can also be difficult if the tires don’t have the required level inflation.
If your tires are underinflated, they won’t be able to sufficiently support the weight of the car, causing uneven wear and tear.
Here’s what you need to know about tire pressure:
- It is important to you check your care tire pressure when seasons change.
- We at Accurate Service recommend checking tire pressure at least once a month – at the very least, once every two months.
- The pounds per square inch (or PSI) of a tire changes by 1 pound for every 10-degree change (hot or cold) in the outside temperature.
- Changes in outside temperatures have an impact on the rate at which your car tires lose air.
- Air pressure for all tires should be checked at the same time – this includes the spare tire as well.
- Radial tires should be checked using a pressure gauge at least once a month – this is important because making out if your radial tires are over inflated or under inflated can be difficult since they tend to look the same.
Check your Tries for Visual Damage
When you take your car inf for service, your car technician will visually check the tires for any signs of damage in addition to checking the tire pressure. However, in between service calls, you should carry out visual inspections of your car tires.
Roads are littered with all kinds of objects that can damage your car tires, including pieces of glass or rubble.
Do the following:
- Make sure you check your tires once a week for damage from nails, pieces of glass or rocks than can get embedded in the tread and lead to premature wear or damage.
- Run your hands along the surface of the tires and check for signs of damage either in the form of a leak or puncture.
Car Tire Maintenance and Cleaning
Here are four car cleaning and routine maintenance tips from Accurate Service:
- Make sure your car tires are professionally rotated on a regular basis to prevent uneven wear.
- Wheel alignment is another major aspect of car tire maintenance which can help prevent uneven wear – your car service will handle this preventive maintenance task for you.
- Make sure you clean the tire treads to remove any debris that may have accumulated or become lodged. You want the most traction that’s possible.
- If you plan on travelling long distance, be sure to check your car tire pressure.
Car Mechanics You Can Trust!
Are you facing any kind of car trouble? If yes, we can help. Give Accurate Service a call today at 520-620-9129 or schedule an appointment online!