Choosing Great Looking Wheels

4 Things You Can Do To Extend The Life Of Your Tires

by Tommy Brewer

You know that eventually you are going to have to get new tires because the rubber is going to wear down. However, there are certain things that you can do to reduce the wear on your tires so that they will last a little bit longer for you.

1. Keep an Eye on Your Tire Pressure

At least once a month, or possibly every other time that you get gas, check to make sure your tires are properly inflated. If your tires are either over- or under-inflated, your tires will be unable to make correct contact with the highway. As a result, the tires will wear unevenly and your vehicle won't get as good of gas mileage.

2. Adjust How You Drive

While all types of tire wear cannot be avoided, you can work to avoid certain driving behaviors that are known to trigger tire wear. For example, if you like to take curves at excessively high speeds, you may be prematurely wearing the edges of your vehicle's front tires.

If you are constantly hitting potholes because you are driving too closely to vehicles in front of you causing you to be unable to see them in enough time to avoid them, your tires are wearing faster and may have unnecessary leaks. In addition, these potholes may even be harming your wheel alignment.

3. Regularly Rotate Your Tires

While many car owners hate to rotate their tires or even take time to have someone else do it, tire rotation is key to maintaining healthy tires and avoiding winding up on the side of the highway with a flat or blow out. A tire rotation involves rotating the tires so that they are in different positions on your vehicle, which will allow the tires to wear more evenly and slowly.

4. Don't Overlook a Wheel Alignment

When you have your tires rotated, go ahead and get a wheel alignment, too. Many people tend to overlook the importance of a wheel alignment, but it can really help improve the overall drivability of your vehicle and increase the lifespan of your tires.

The aforementioned four things can help ensure that your tires last longer and help keep you safer while driving. If you can't keep up the maintenance on your tires or are worried about the way that they look, don't hesitate to take your vehicle to a tire service shop for a routine inspection. It is always better to be safe than sorry. 

Share