Your vehicle’s tires are supremely important in a number of ways. Because they are the only contact between your vehicle and the road, keeping them maintained can increase your safety. Your car will be easier to handle and more responsive when the tires are taken care of.
What is Proper Tire Maintenance?
Proper tire maintenance is actually comprised of several different areas. Failing to address one area could mean that another malfunctions, wears out more quickly or otherwise doesn’t work as well as it should and could. Broadly defined, these are the primary aspects of proper tire maintenance:
1. Do You Have the Correct Tire?
Each vehicle manufacturer has a specific type of tire that they recommend. They come to this recommendation by considering the weight load the vehicle was made to handle, the purpose of the vehicle and the best performance possible.
Because of these careful considerations, any deviation from the recommended tire for your specific vehicle could result in a significant reduction in performance and safety. When in doubt as to the right tire for your vehicle, always reach out to a professional such as those in the service department at Rob Green GMC.
2. Are Your Tires Too Old?
Once you’ve found out the correct tire for your vehicle, you need to also make sure that it is new enough to do its job right. A tire that is aging could start breaking down, cracking and eventually deteriorating enough so it poses a safety hazard every time you drive.
So how care you tell if a tire is too old? While many people swear that as long as a tire has sufficient tread, it isn’t too old to be usable, this actually isn’t the case.
Every tire has a production date that is typically found on the sidewall. In addition to number that indicate the size of the tire and other important information, you’ll also find a four-digit number that’s located within an oval.
The first two digits of this number indicate the week the tire was manufactured while the second two digits are the year. For example, a tire with a four-digit number of 1520 means it was made during the 15th week of 2020.
While you will find some differences in opinion between vehicle and tire manufacturers when it comes to replacing tires, there is a general rule of thumb you can follow. If your tires are between six and eight years old, it’s a good idea to make plans to replace them.
3. Are Your Tires Inflated Correctly?
When your tires are inflated correctly, it contributes to the comfort, handling and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. The manufacturer of your vehicle has established a recommended air pressure for your tires.
These recommendations are based on two elements. With a tire pressure that is high, you’ll experience better fuel efficiency and less resistance to rolling. However, you’ll also have a rougher ride and reduced traction.
Lower tire pressure, on the other hand, gives you both a smoother ride and better traction. You’ll also experience poor tire wear and a reduction in your fuel efficiency.
In order to establish a balance between these two extremes, vehicle manufacturers recommend a particular tire pressure per square inch (PSI) that is designed to give you a good combination of handling, fuel efficiency and comfortable ride. You’ll find this recommendation on a sticker on the driver’s side door as well as your owner’s manual.
4. What Kind of Condition are Your Tires In?
Most people are aware that your tires should have enough tread, but this is not the only measure of your tire’s condition. Even if your tires have plenty of tread on them, if they have some type of damage, you could experience a malfunction.
Damage could be caused by road hazards such glass, nails, rocks, screws and the like. Your tires could also become damaged by contact with curbs, potholes, speed bumps and objects in the roadway.
Your tires also need to be properly balanced and aligned. If they are not, you could experience a reduction in handling and fuel efficiency.
Now that you know what’s involved in maintaining your tires, reach out to the expert professionals at Rob Green Buick GMC if you have any questions or need assistance. They are always happy to help!
