Tire Performance

Tires Wear Faster in Hot Weather

ATV Tires and AccessoriesDo tires wear faster in hot weather? Sergio, who works at Sergio’s Automotive in Thousand Palms, explains. “Because tires are made of rubber and what people don’t normally see is the air in the tire actually expands more when the temperature rises. And on the asphalt on the freeway, it’s a little hotter than normal because you’re getting all those cars going by all the time. Friction from contact with a hot road surface and friction within the tire produces even more heat.” The air inside the tire will rise and this increases the tire pressure inside the tire.

Tires Wear Faster in Hot Weather

In addition, the rubber becomes more soft and pliable as temperatures rise and friction increases the temperature of the rubber even more. Soft rubber on hot asphalt is a perfect place for tires to wear fast! Winter tires are made of a softer rubber than summer tires so if you have winter tires on your car in the summer tire they will wear even faster than the normal summer tire. Once the snow is gone, if you live in areas where you get a lot of snow, it is time to install summertime tires. Low tire pressure will also increase friction and help a rubber tire wear even faster.

So how do you check your tread to see if it’s too low?

Tires Wear Faster in Hot Weather – If you feel that your tires have worn down too much due to use and summertime friction, check your tires before they get too bald. “The best idea, if you don’t have any kind of tool, is to always put an Abe Lincoln, a penny. And if it’s above the Abe Lincoln head you’re alright. Once it’s below usually that’s where it is when you need to change your tires. Sometimes there are indicators wear marks on the tire themselves. This is a warning that your tire’s tread is getting thin and it is time to change your tires.”

Always purchase tires that are the right size for your car. Most people will just check the sidewall of their existing tires and replace them with the same tire. However, your tire dealer can look up your car, make, and model to see what range of tires are suitable for your vehicle. It is important to install the right kind of tires with the proper speed and load rating. They help your vehicle maintain stability at low and high speeds.

Improper tire size can cause accidents due to instability when turning corners or curves at high speed or even changing lanes on the highway. Improper tire size can also contribute to your tires wearing faster than normal. You really are not getting your mileage out of the tire that you are supposed to.

Vehicle Inspection at Maintenance Time

Tires Wear Faster in Hot Weather.  One of the best times to check your tires is when you have the oil changed. If your tires are worn down due to mileage or high temperatures, your oil change technician will usually point this out. Many oil change shops now will do an inspection of all fluids, check the tire pressure, and note if your tire tread is getting thin. They will let you know if your tires should be changed. If they fail to point this out, ask them to check for you specifically. Ask for advice regarding your tires.

Make sure that your tires are at the proper tire pressure and have the correct amount of tread. This will ensure that your tires are safe to drive on at all normal speeds. They will also ensure that you get the best possible gas mileage as well. With the cost of gas these days it is important to make sure that everything is working properly on your car. So that you get the best possible gas mileage. This includes your tires.

For more information about tire safety and tire performance, click here.


GoodYear Tire

.ATV Tires and AccessoriesGoodyear tires, like any other tire should be inspected visually on a daily basis or whenever you plan to drive your car. A quick glance will let you know if the tires are properly inflated, within several pounds. A closer inspection once a week should also be completed to observe tire pressure and any possible damage to the tread or the rim at the time. This sort of check can be completed in seconds as you approach the car! Many new cars also have tire pressure monitor systems installed. New cars are very accurate, however, if you have an older car, the tire pressure could be down a few pounds before an alarm is triggered in your car about the need to check your tires. Check your tires often.

GoodYear Tire

GoodYear Tires operate the same as any other tire. You also get what you pay for. By that we mean that if you buy a tire that is good for 40,000 miles, don’t expect to last longer than that. the following are some of the issues that motorists should consider regardless of the kind of tires they purchase.

Flat Tires

When a Goodyear tire goes flat it should be removed immediately to be inspected and repaired. If you drive on a tire for a short distance the tire could be permanently ruined. Even driving a short distance can ruin a tire. Punctures that are smaller than ¼ inch can usually be related. Larger punctures or holes cannot be usually repaired. Sidewall punctures should never be repaired and the tire should be replaced.

Balance Your Tires

Goodyear tires should always be balanced when they are first installed on new rims. They should also be balanced whenever you feel a vibration in the steering wheel or the car in general. Continued vibration may harm the tires and cause them to overheat or wear unevenly. Some tire companies suggest that the tires should be balanced at least once per year.

Good year tires can last much longer if consumers maintain proper balance if they maintain proper inflation and alignment. Visually check your tires every time you drive the car and a thorough check each week.

Check Your Tires

Any time you feel any vibration, have your tires checked and balanced. With a set of four tires costing as much as $500 or even more with installation and wheel balancing, it makes good financial sense to check your tires often. Even a quick glance will be enough to notice if anything is wrong. It could save you a lot of money by increasing your gas mileage, by giving more stability when driving at high speeds and avoiding accidents. Tires wear quickly when they are underinflated which leads to premature replacement.

If your tires are wearing more on one side of the tire than the other, check your car’s alignment. This should be tackled immediately as soon as you notice this uneven wear on the tire to avoid the tires being ruined and having to spend a lot of money on a set of new tires.

For more posts about buying tires and tire performance, click here.


Best Tires

Best TiresHow do you know what the best tires are for your car? Most people just go to the dealer or to a tire company and tell them the kind of tires the car came with and install new tires from the same manufacturer.  Sometimes the dealer will look it up in a database he has access to, while other times you will have to check the existing tires to see what they are. Size and manufacturer are the key bits of information.

Best Tires Fit Your Car

They have to be of the same size and width to fit your car and there are usually many different ones that can be installed. Some are made for summer, some are made for winter, but most people put all season tires on their cars unless you happen to be in a state or province were they make it mandatory to have snow tires installed in the winter time.

Tires also come with various load ratings and speed ratings. How do you know what speed and load rating to install on your car? The reality is you do not. Most people just need to rely on the dealer’s recommendation to install the best tires for their car. Or at least those that are rated for each make and model along with the type of driving that you do. Your car’s manual will have a section that will advise regarding the type to install.

Tire Sizes & Ratings

Our tires are P215 60R16 M&S! Whatever does that mean and how do you make a selection that will fit your car? The M&S is the easy part. This means Mud and Snow. Mud & Snow is supposed to be ok for both conditions in addition to summer time driving. They are generally ok, however if you want to have good traction, consumers should really consider winter snow tires with heavy tread meant for snowy conditions. M&S wheels are not great in heavy snow conditions and most people will install snow tires for the winter time if they drive every day in snow conditions for safety.

The remaining numbers are a bit more complex:

  • 215 means the width of the tire face is 215mm (8.46 inches)
  • 60 means that the size of the sidewall is 60% of the width of the tire face
  • R16 means that the tire is designed to fit 16 inch rims

You can change the width of the tire. However you cannot change the rim size. If you do, the actual speed will be faster than what is shown on your speedometer. This depends on whether you add larger or smaller rim sizes. Your car has been designed for a specific size. Your car will have the best handling characteristics and the best gas mileage with wheels that meet these specs. Hence anything different will affect the car. Most people just have to tell the company they are dealing with the make and model of the car. They will add the right kind of tires.

Cheap Tires or Best Tires

There are tires that will last longer and will be able to handle higher speeds at hot temperatures.  As a result longer lasting rubber usually cost more and make sense if you are keeping the car for a long time. If you planning to sell your car, you may not want to spend much money on new wheels. Of course this is another factor to take into account when you are buying wheels. Find the best for your car at the best tire price.

For more posts about buying tires and tire performance, click here.


Tire Rotation and Why?

As a consumer, I have always wondered why I should rotate the tires on my car and how often they should be rotated. Apparently there is a proper way to rotate the tires and a wrong way to do it as well. I have had many cars over the years and for some I have rotated the tires, while others I did not bother at all.

I did not notice a difference in the way the tires wore out or even if they wore out prematurely. The experts say that you should rotate them often. Apparently every 12k miles is recommended by some car dealers.

I have brand new tires on my car and they come with lifetime rotation and warranty ( the warranty is prorated). I have no excuse to not have them rotated. However I thought I should really investigate this tire rotation business and why you rotate your tires. My new found knowledge is being passed along on this website for those of you who care about these sorts of things.

Tire Rotation

Each wheel should be moved from one location on your car to another location on your car at regular intervals. Check your cars manual for the recommended period, however for the warranty I received with my tires, my tires need to be rotated every 12,000 miles. Consumers who also have a full size spare with their car should have this tire included in the rotation so that all tires have the same uniform wear on them.  Specific tire rotation guidelines also apply in terms of were you place the tires.

For cars that are front wheel drive, front tires are moved to the back and across. For example your left front tire should be moved to your right rear location. The left front tire should be moved to the right rear location. Both rear tires should be moved straight ahead. Following this approach all four tires will occupy each position over time and they should wear evenly provided your alignment is ok.  The picture above shows other possible tire rotation patterns, however you should follow your cars manual for the proper pattern.

Why should You Rotate Your Tires

This was something that I never really understood until I did a little bit of research. It turns out that your front tires do a lot more work than the rear tires. Even though they both cover the same distance. First of all the front of the car weighs more with the engine weight on them, secondly they perform the majority of the work pulling the car with front wheel drive cars and they do the majority of the braking. All of this seems pretty obvious when you think about it.

The last two reasons were a bit of a surprise to me but they do make sense. Your front right tire is more likely to hit debris on the road. It will take more of a beating from stones and glass than the other tires as well as hitting the odd curb. The left front tire is put under  stress. We tend to take left hand turns at a slightly higher rate of speed than we do right hand turns in North America. The reverse is true for parts of Europe were they drive on the other side of the road.

As a result of all of these reasons, rotating your tires makes sense. Spread the load and to ensure that your tires wear evenly.

Include Your Spare Tire in Your Tire Rotation Plans

When you include your full size spare tire in this rotation, you will ensure that all of your tires wear at the same speed. If you ever have a flat tire, your spare tire will more evenly match the tires on the car as well. One more thing about your spare tire. If your spare tire is not the same make and model of tire that is on your car, forget including your spare tire in the tire rotations. Different tires handle differently. They may cause some instability as a result in your driving. In my case, my spare is not the same as the four tires I just purchased. I will not include it in the regular tire rotation exercise.

Your comments and suggestions are welcome. Particularly those that will assist our readers. We will approve all well written comments that information to the web site to help our readers. We will approve the links to your site if the comments are informative as we mentioned.


Tires for All Terrain Vehicles

All terrain vehicles are small motorized vehicles devised especially for off-road usage. The usually will seat one rider and can have from two to six tires depending on the type of machine. These hardy vehicles are designed to take on difficult terrains and are becoming increasingly popular nowadays as sports vehicles as well as utility vehicles in off-road conditions. They are unstable at high speeds.

Motorcycles, jeeps – land rovers and similar other vehicles capable of off-road usage are available as well. All terrain vehicles can be taken  over all kinds of situations to places that most jeeps and land rovers cannot operate. All terrain vehicles or ATVs can be used for pleasure purposes. Also for hunting and for work or travel on off-road sites. They have 4 big knobby tires. However, some models of ATVs will also have 6 or 8 wheels. All terrain vehicles come in a variety of makes, models and sizes from many different manufacturers.

Tires for All Terrain Vehicles

There are many different types of tires for all terrain vehicles or ATV’s . Some are meant for higher speed, some are meant to protect the grass on golf courses for example, some have big knobby tires to provide extra traction in slippery conditions and some are large balloon like tires for use in muddy or wet conditions. Before you purchase an ATV, discuss your planned use with the sales person so that you have an ATV and tires that match the conditions you will use your ATV in.

Types of ATVs and their usage

All terrain vehicles may be very basic with skid steering, balloon tires and no suspension. There are also more sophisticated models. They feature track conversion systems for use on a variety of terrain conditions for all seasons. Using these you can get around just about any terrain and at any time of the year. These vehicles enable carrying out a number of activities. They are effective in punishing conditions which no other vehicle could get to.

The utility models of ATVs are appropriate for range land or farm projects. The four by four units of ATVs provides good grip over rugged terrain while automatic transmission simplifies operation. Again, the two by four ATV units with 250-300 cc four stroke engines are easier to maneuver over long periods of operations at slow speeds such as  spraying. Whether it is fence repair or getting into the bush to cut trees, ATV’s can usually go were other larger vehicles cannot.

Things to remember while on ATVs

Kids as well as adults will drive ATV’s over uneven ground at sometimes a very fast rate of speed.  Drive at a speed that matches the conditions of the track you are on.

Use safety equipment and wear a helmet. Carry an electric air pump and tire-plug kit with tire sealant (for helping seal tires while operating in thorn infested or rocky landscape). These will come of use in repairing flat tires in difficult uninhabited terrain.

For more information about tire safety and tire performance, click here.


ATV Tires and Accessories

ATV Tires and AccessoriesATV tires and accessories fit ATV’s,  or All Terrain Vehicles that are small motor vehicles with large tires. They are used for transportation or racing in conditions usually not suitable for cars and trucks. All Terrain Vehicles are usually controlled with motorcycle hand controls. While some have a combination of hand and foot controls.

ATV’s are a fun and exciting way to experience the wilderness. They can be a useful means of transportation in rural settings. They have gained a lot of popularity as work horses to transport materials in difficult conditions. As well as off road sport activity in deserts, swamp and just about any condition you can imagine.

ATV Tires and Accessories – ATV Popularity

The ATV has gained huge popularity with hunters, with farmers and weekend warriors because of its versatility. There are many different types of ATV’s nowadays. Companies such as Honda, Polaris, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, and Arctic Cat sell them. There is a variety of specialized models and varying engine sizes. They come with various cargo capabilities for the different outdoor activities like racing, hunting and camping.

If you are about to  purchase your all terrain vehicle you  now may need some ATV accessories. The first thing to consider are the tires that you want to have on your ATV. There are many different types of 4 wheeler tires to choose from, such as the ITP ATV tire, ATV sand tire, Gator ATV tire, Maxxis ATV tire, Goodyear ATV tire, and many others. Select the right tires for the conditions that you expect to spend the most time in, as there are tires for mud, sand, racing and trails.

Safety Considerations While Driving an ATV

ATV’s operators have a reputation for doing silly things and as a result the machine and the sport have a reputation for being dangerous. You should really consider protective equipment. The very first thing should be to get a proper helmet and be sure to wear proper eye protection too. Flying stones, branches etc can do a lot of damage and many operators have flipped their machines as well so get those helmets and eye protection.

The next thing to think about is protective clothing , so be sure to wear boots and gloves to protect your hands and feet while operating the ATV – it’s an absolute must for any rider and passenger.

Another great accessory for your ATV could be saddle bags,  which will allow you to carry all your cargo while you take your ATV on hunting trips or just to have some outdoor fun. You may want to have specialized cargo bags depending on your activities.

Most off-road riders will eventually get stuck in the mud or need to provide  help for another driver . For a serious ATV owner a winch is a necessity. The winch cable can be fastened around a nearby tree, and used to pull the vehicle out of the muck were it is stuck.

Racing ATV’s

Racing ATVs are configured differently from conventional ATVs. They are usually customized with different wheels, shocks and exhaust systems. There are many lines of 4 wheeler tires to choose from, such as the ITP ATV tire, ATV sand tire, Gator ATV tire, Maxxis ATV tire, Goodyear ATV tire, and many others.

When it comes to tires, the most important attribute is the tread. Different tires have different types of tread that make the ATV appropriate for navigating different types of terrain. For those spending time in the mud, it is strongly recommended that you purchase mud tires. Mud tires also work well on different types of terrain , but due to the tire tread, the ride is not so smooth.On the other hand narrow tires tend to sink in mud, but may provide you more stability on hard packed ground.

The shocks need to give enough to absorb impact with minimal speed loss and also must be must be stiff enough. The exhaust is simply made up of a more free flowing muffler and intake to move air through the engine much quicker. This altered exhaust results in more noise , but it can raise the torque of your ATV. Bumpers and skid plates protect the ATV from damage due to rough terrain or racing. These are just a few of the ATV Tires and Accessories for consideration. For more information about tire safety and tire performance, click here.

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Tire Pressure and Safety

tire pressure and safetyIt has long been known by most of us that proper tire inflation can save on fuel costs. Many people, however, do not realize that proper tire inflation not only prolongs the life of the tire, thus saving on replacement costs. But also impacts on the wear and tear experienced by various parts of the steering assembly itself. Additionally, Tire Pressure and Safety are directly related.

Proper tire inflation simply improves  driving control by reducing the amount of corrections and control required from the driver. Proper tire pressure can actually avoid car accidents. It can save you a great deal of money and frustration.

Tire Pressure and Safety

Regular Tire Inspections

Safety is also impacted when proper tire inflation is combined with regular inspections and other appropriate tire care steps because there is less chance of unexpected tire failure in dangerous highway driving and other traffic situations.

So, all year round, increased safety and fuel economy can rest on something as simple as regularly inspecting your tires visually and maintaining proper tire inflation pressure. It is also a good idea to make note somewhere of when tires are purchased, including both date AND mileage. Many of us tend to let such bits of info slide into the background as we drive at top speed with our loved ones on tires which may be nearing the end of their effective, safe lives.

Check also when tires were manufactured. Any tire older than 7 years should be suspect and not only checked regularly, but also replaced as soon as they show signs of deterioration. Some tires are sold as new, when they are already 5 or 6 years old so check with the dealer before they are installed.

Check Tires Before Seasonal Changes in Weather

Due to weather changes and road conditions in various areas, additional checks, maintenance, and operations may be called for.

Winter presents unique challenges in some areas and in almost all areas from time to time. Cars may become stuck in snow, roads may become icy, and vehicles may slip and slide at exactly the worst time possible. Winter is NOT a time that you want a tire to fail, so the usual inspections and maintenance become even more important. Properly inflated tires can help maintain traction as well as aiding in regaining control in skids and slides. If stuck in snow, by the way, try to avoid spinning your tires. This can cause overheating of the tire and may possibly contribute to a future failure of the tire.

Tire Pressure and Safety – Avoid Potholes

After Winter has done its damage to drivers in many parts of the country, a new phenomenon may appear in abundance. Many new potholes happen due to a cycle of freezing and thawing of water under the roadway. Potholes can be tire killers at any time of the year, but, because of this cycle, there seems to be more of them after Winter has passed. Often, the damage a pothole inflicts on a tire is invisible, although the damage to the steering may become immediately evident due to the “pulling” of the vehicle to one side or the other, or vibration which wasn’t present before.

Obviously, avoiding potholes completely is the best way to protect your tires against damage. However, as we all know, this is not always possible. Here is a tip on how to hit a pothole with minimum damage to your tires. First and foremost, do NOT brake during the impact itself! This creates a solid impact at a given point and will produce the most damage. Instead, brake as much as it is safely possible up to just before impact. Release the brakes in time to roll across the pothole. This will result in a rolling contact which produces less damage in most cases.

Proper Tire Inflation

When deciding on proper inflation pressures, your car manufacturer will usually provide the recommended pressures in the owner’s manual. This information is also on a data plate commonly located on the door frame. Or in the glove compartment, or under the hood. However, aftermarket tires purchased later may require different inflation pressures. In this case, it is good to check with the tire dealer on what would be the best inflation pressures.

Tire Rotation

Last, but not least, a word on tire rotation. Obviously, not all tires are going to experience the same wear at the same time. For this reason, it is usually considered a good idea to periodically rotate tires. Your best bet in most instances is to simply go with the car manufacturer’s recommendations. But a rule of thumb might be to rotate tires every 6,000 miles on most cars. In addition every 4,000 miles on cars with 4-wheel drive.

In these days of high fuel costs, and with the possibility of even higher costs in the future, this is a simple way to improve fuel economy. Consider that you can also prolong the safe and effective life of your tires as well. You will also not only be putting more money in your own pocket but will be helping reduce the power needed to produce more new tires. As a result this will help reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil as well.

For more information about tire safety and tire performance, click here.


Is Your Vehicle Ready for Summer Vacation

Is Your Vehicle Ready for Summer VacationSummer is just around the corner. Is Your Vehicle Ready? Many people are planning their summer driving trips to the cottage, to theme parks, camping sites and visits to the family. The summertime is harder on tires than other times of the year. This is due to the higher temperatures and often heavier loads due to more people and luggage in their cars. Is Your Vehicle Ready for summer vacation travel?

Is Your Vehicle Ready – Check Your Car Before Travel

Before you go on any trip with your car and also on a weekly basis, have your car fully checked out to avoid any nasty surprises. Tires are the most important element of your car. check for proper tire pressure and that the tire lug nuts are on tight. Also, check that there is sufficient tread on the tires to be safe in all kinds of conditions. However, we also recommend that you check

  • All Fluid levels including
    • Power steering,
    • Engine oil,
    • Transmission oil and
    • Brake fluid levels
    • Antifreeze in the radiator
  • Check the windshield cleaner
  • Check your tires inflation levels
  • Have your car’s alignment checked
  • Check your tires balance

Follow your car’s instructions for checking all of these items in a safe manner or take your car to an auto mechanic or your dealer for a complete checkup.

Tire Pressure

Have your mechanic check your tires next time you go in for an oil change. If one is not due, it is easy to check the tire pressure yourself with a tire pressure gauge. Top up the air pressure to the vehicle specs if you find that the tires have low tire pressure.

If your car has a tire pressure monitor on it, don’t rely on this for optimum tire pressure. The alarm in your dash will turn on if your tire is losing air and drops several pounds of pressure. If your tire is down 2 or 3 pounds it will not show up on the dash of your car.

Recently some of the newer cars are more accurate and will even tell you when the car’s tires are over-inflated which can be just as dangerous as an underinflated tire. Both situations can decrease stability and cause the tire to overheat which may cause it to blow out. At high speeds, a serious accident can easily take place.

Tire Alignment

If your car is out of alignment, you will notice uneven wear on your cars tires. This is dangerous and can lead to the car pulling on one direction or the other and your tires wearing out much more quickly. Have your alignment checked before you go on any further trips.

Tire Balance

Unbalanced tires or tires that have lost their balancing weights, will vibrate at various speeds. You can feel this vibration in the steering wheel. The tires will also wear unevenly making the situation even worse. In fact, if you wait to long, you will not be able to balance the tires properly and will need to purchase new tires to fix the problem.

Preventive maintenance that we have discussed above will ensure that your car runs well, gets great gas mileage and that your family should have a successful trip. Why avoid or delay when the failure of one of your tires could cause an accident and ruin your trip. For more information about tire safety and tire performance, click here.

 

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Your Tires Condition counts

Your Tires Condition countsThe Automobile Club of Southern California has recently stated that as long as your vehicle has tires that are in good working condition, you would be able to have good fuel economy and extend the life of your vehicle as well. This is in accordance and with regards to the National Tire Safety Week which started just last April 23rd and would be continuing to the end of this week. The tire shown in this picture is definitely not in good working condition.  Your Tires Condition counts.

The front end needs to be aligned and maybe some tie rods replaced. This tire has severe wear and tear on the left hand side and the car probably pulls badly to the right as you are driving. Never mind about fuel economy, this driver needs to be concerned about the safety of his vehicle. He should be concerned about being able to stop quickly with out causing an accident.

Tires in Good Working Condition

So exactly what is “good working condition”? We have listed a few items that would be necessary for your tires to be considered in good working condition. They are as follows:

  • Proper tire pressure, not over and not under inflated
  • All four tires balanced properly
  • No cuts, tears or obvious damage to the tire
  • No premature wear and tear on one side of the tire or another
  • At least 1/8 of an inch of tread on the tires and this is considered low
  • Proper tires on the car, fitted for speed rating, size and width
  • Tire age is not more than 6 years

The National Tire Safety Week was launched so as to assist drivers in understanding the basic tire care. Aside from this, the fact remains that there is still that need for proper tire maintenance.

From research completed, the statistics have shown that around 85 percent of drivers do not actually check their vehicle’s tire pressure properly or even at all.

Engineer Steve Mazor who is the Auto Club’s principal automotive engineer states, “Not knowing the condition of your vehicle’s tires is equal to pouring money down the drain. Proper tire inflation is necessary to for safe driving and to reduce gas costs.”

Your Tires Condition counts – Under Inflated Tires

He continue-s, “Under inflated tires can cut fuel economy by up to two percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level. They can cause your tires to run hot and they can prematurely wear out as well.

After every fill up, motorists should walk around their vehicles and check tires for uneven or excessive tread wear and proper inflation. Drivers can refer to their vehicle’s doorjamb or glove box for original specifications or the manufacturer of the replacement tire for tire pressure.”

As per statistics that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has, nearly one out of every three vehicles on the roads and highways has a significant under inflated tire. Aside from this fact is that there are some 600 fatalities and around 33,000 injuries that happen every year. These are results of low tire pressure related crashes.

Make it a Habit

It is an easy habit to get into. Before you start the car every morning, take a quick walk around the car. Check the tire pressure by observation, and if a tire looks low, check it with a tire pressure gauge. Once a week use a gauge to check the actual pressure and top up if needed.

Never over inflate since the tire pressure will increase as you use the car at high speeds. After you have done this a few times, you will quickly be able to assess whether a tire is low or not.

Benefits of Tire Maintenance

Although we have focused on tire condition and checking the inflation of tires, there are two primary reasons to check your tires. One is to gain better gas mileage. Your car will get the best gas mileage if your tires are properly inflated and balanced.  In addition tires that are well maintained have less tendency to have a blow out. If this happens at high speeds, you might lose control of the car causing far more serious consequences.

Feel free to leave comments about tire maintenance etc, to help our readers avoid accidents and gain better gas mileage.


Tire Performance

the right tires for your carGood tires will perform well in all kinds of conditions, snow , rain, hot pavement, gravel roads and sandy beaches. In fact, your tires actually give you much more comfort than many people realize. Good tires that are properly inflated and balanced along with the suspension system absorb  the bumps and potholes on the road providing you with a smooth ride at slow as well as high speeds. The tire performance is optimized when you they are balanced and inflated to the correct tire pressure.

With this in mind, it is important that you do take good care of your tires. In fact, you would not want to be driving a car that has worn out tires on it since it would be unsafe in many different situations, rain, snow and ice to name three.

Bald tires do not provide sufficient traction in these conditions and they are also more prone to blowouts. Aside from this, your chances of meeting a flat tire or having one of your tires blow up increase as the tread is worn down. Taking care of tires is important and relatively easy.

Tire Performance – Maintain Your Tires

There are four things that must be done to maintain your tires:

  • Proper inflation
  • Balance
  • Tire rotation
  • Alignment

Proper Inflation

At least once a month, you should check the tire pressure. All tires should be checked. To be sure that you have put in the right amount of pressure, check your car owner’s manual to confirm the proper pressure level. You may also find the information regarding this stamped on the side of the tire or on the information plate on the door jam. Make sure that you do not under inflate them or over inflate them. Both can cause premature tire wear.

Alignment

While driving, if you notice that your car is pulling in one direction even if you are driving on a straight road, then would be the time to have the wheels aligned. By having the car aligned, you are driving much safely and you also are lessening the pressure on the tires thus making them last longer.When the car pulls to one side or the other, the tires are also wearing on one side, which will prematurely cause them to wear out.

Balance Your Wheels – Tire Performance

You should also have the wheels checked and balanced if you  feel continuous  vibrations while driving at certain speeds. This is cause by the wheels not being properly balanced and can cause them to wear more quickly. While they are being balanced you should also have the tires rotated on your car to take advantage of different wear patterns on each side of the car.

Tire Rotation

Check your car’s manual for proper instructions concerning when to rotate your tires and the method of rotation. This will help to ensure that your tires will last longer and wear evenly across all four tires.

Your cars tire performance can be maximized if you take care of them following these steps mentioned above. Every tire has an expected life span and mileage expectation. You will only achieve the advertised amount of mileage if you maintain your tires at the optimal level all of the time, other wise they will wear faster than they should.

If you have comments on tire performance, on maintaining your tires etc, please feel free to leave comments. Our readers will appreciate your input. For more information on tire performance, click here.

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