The average price of one brand-new all-season tire ranges somewhere between $100 and $200. To replace all your current tires, you will need to prepare to spend at least $400 for four brand new ones.
According to tire and truck repair service providers in Atlanta, you can extend the life of your tires and avoid incurring unexpected costs for buying new ones by following these tips.
1. Always check your tire pressure
Make regular tire pressure checks a habit. They are easily affected by low or high pressure, so check them after a dramatic shift in temperature or when temperatures drop really low. Make sure you check the tire pressures before going on a road trip as well.
You can check your tires’ pressure by using a tire gauge which you can buy at automotive stores. You can also use the air machine at a local gas station or bring your car to a tire repair shop.
If you don’t know what the recommended tire pressure is for your car, look for a sticker inside the driver’s door which states the manufacturer’s recommendation. You can also find the recommended pressure stamped on the sidewall of the tire.
2. Know when to have your wheels aligned
Proper wheel alignment is crucial in prolonging the life of your tires. If the wheels are misaligned, your tires will begin to wear unevenly. You may also experience different types of handling issues such as pulling or abnormal vibration.
If you notice an unusual tire wear and your car is uncontrollably pulling from one side to the other, it’s time to bring your vehicle to your mechanic for wheel alignment. Keep in mind that if you do not do anything about this problem, you will continue experiencing poor driving quality. It can also shorten the life of your car’s tires, bearings, shocks, and other suspension components. In case your vehicle is vibrating even if you’re driving on a smooth road, the tires and wheels may need to be rebalanced.
3. Follow your tire rotation schedule
Regular tire rotation extends the life of your tires and improves their performance. Tire rotation is done to give a uniform wear for all tires. To prevent irregular tire wear, tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
Tires have to be rotated according to the correct tire-rotation pattern. This will help extend the quality and life of your tires and reduce the risk of sudden tire failure. There is a method to tire rotation and specialized tools are also needed, and as such, this process is best handled by expert mechanics.
4. Manually inspect your tires
Most of the time, drivers run over nails, screws, and small pieces of metal that could gouge a tire’s tread or even damage the sidewall without knowing it. To know if your tires have been damaged and to avoid further tire problems, run your hands around the outside of tires every now and then. When you do this, regardless of the size, you will feel cuts, nails or punctures.
In case you find any damage, take the car to a tire shop and have it repaired immediately before the cut or puncture gets larger or more severe. Having your tires fixed right away will also help you avoid blow-outs on the highway. Experts in tire repair say that you should not attempt to remove the debris since you may end up causing the hole or cut to become bigger, and you may even hurt yourself.
5. Monitor your tires’ tread depth
Lastly, to be safe on the roads, make sure you regularly check your tire tread depth. This is measured from the top of the tire tread to the deepest groove. You can measure tire tread depth by using a digital or mechanical tread depth gauge.
You can also do the penny test to check tire wear. Simply place a penny upside down in between the tire tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it means that the treads are worn and tire replacement is needed.
Driving a car with extremely worn tires is unsafe and dangerous. In addition, there are laws regarding the minimum tire tread depth in most countries. If you have these in your country, you are breaking the law by continuing to drive a car with bald tires.
Your tires play an important role in the quality of your drive and with keeping you safe on the roads. By taking care of and maintaining them properly, you avoid a lot of unnecessary expenses and hassles. You can be sure you have a roadworthy car as well, no matter how far you travel.
AUTHOR BIO
Troy McGraw
A Georgia native, Troy McGraw started Road Rescue Incorporated in 2014, specializing in tractor and trailer emergency breakdown road service. As the president of Road Rescue, Inc., his goal is to provide quality, dependable service to the trucking industry. Road Rescue Incorporated is a growing, thriving, and respected company servicing the trucking industry in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia areas.