Talk about a rough relationship!
Roads are not easy on tires. Uneven asphalt. Potholes. Excessive heat. Roads take and take while tires give and give. If you go down that road far enough, a blowout is inevitable!
But you can take some preventative steps to move your tire-road status from “It’s Complicated” to “In a relationship.”
Under Pressure
First off, check that air pressure! If your car monitors individual tire pressure for you, you’re good. But, if not, do you have a tire gauge? No? Get a good quality tire gauge. Check the pressure monthly and check the number listed on the inside of your door, not the tire!
The structure of your tire needs air to hold itself together. Even a10% loss of tire pressure can eventually cause a blowout. If you’re regularly losing pressure, bring it in. We can let you know if it is a leak we can fix. If not, we can get you a great set of tires at an affordable price!
Rotation, Rotation, Rotation
Roads are purposely sloped to allow for drainage. This can cause uneven wear. You need to get your tires rotated every 5,000 to 6,000 miles.
We can maximize the life of your tires with this simple, affordable step. We will also make sure they are balanced and keep an eye on wheel alignment. If you are steering crooked down a straight road, give us a call! Getting a wheel alignment is much cheaper than a new set of tires!
George Washington Never Lies!
Checking tire wear costs just 25 cents. Insert a quarter into a tread groove with Washington’s head facing down. If you can’t see the top of his head, you are good-to-go. If you can see the all of George’s wig, it means you have less than 1/8” of tread left. This is the point at which you should consider replacing your tires. The more of Washington’s head you see, the more unsafe turning and braking become!
Remember, most tires don’t make it past the 50,000-mile mark.
It’s always good to visually inspect tires each month, especially before a long trip. If you notice low tread, tread wear on one edge, uneven wear (called cupping), or raised tread or sidewall, bring your car or truck on in!
The experts at Certified Automotive Specialists will make sure your tires—and everything from that keeps you running down the road—are in great shape. If you have questions or feel you have something we need to look at, set up your appointment online or give us a call us today at 253-854-6762!
