The tires are the foundation of your car, and it’s important to remember that if you look after your tires, you are supporting your car in the right ways. But it’s amazing how many of us overlook this key component. But looking after your tires could not be simpler. Let’s show you some methods.
Inspecting Your Tires
You may very well be preoccupied with the aesthetics, and let’s face it, who isn’t? However, if you are looking to fix rims and alloys rather than looking at the quality of the tires, you’ve got to make sure that you get into the habit of inspecting them. Inspecting your tires involves a number of simple things:
- Check the tread depth. Evaluating the tread depth of the tires means you will be able to see if you have an attraction to grip on the road. One of the best ways to check this is to conduct the penny test. Put a penny upside down in the tread of your tire, and if you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head, it may be time to invest in a new set of tires.
- Checking the condition. You need to inspect the tire for any damage or conditions that could mean a replacement. Inspecting the trades for any cuts, punctures, cracks or bumps means you will need to take it to a professional to have a closer look.
Determining the Tire’s Age
Depending on how much you drive the car every year, the tire tread may last for a while but even if the tread is not worn out, you may still need to replace the tires. You need to replace the tires up to 10 years after the date of manufacturing. To find the age of your tire look at the DOT stamping on the sidewall. The end of the DOT stamping shows a four-digit number, the first two numbers are the week, and the last two are the year. For example, a tire with 5107 means that it was manufactured in the 51st week of 2017.
Checking the Tire Pressure
You need to make sure that your tires are properly inflated. You can do this by using a tire pressure gauge and comparing this to the vehicle’s recommended inflation pressure. Always check the tires when they are cold, which means that they need to have been stationary for at least 3 hours.
Look at the Oil
Oil is the most important fluid after fuel. Having regular oil changes will keep the engine clean and will have a positive impact on the car. Ensuring that having your oil checked regularly means that you will maximize the car’s performance and the engine lights.
There are so many things that we can do for our car that will guarantee that it will go the distance. You may not need new tires right away, but ensuring that your vehicle is properly maintained can save you a little bit of money in the long run. And it all begins with the tires.