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Simple Tire Inspection Tips for Your Vehicle

We cannot stress enough how important maintenance is for your vehicle. By having your car inspected from time to time, you’ll be able to save thousands of dollars in expensive repairs. A major part of your regular vehicle maintenance is your tires. With that in mind, here are some good tire inspection tips that you can do.

Check the Tire Pressure

One of the most important things you need to check while conducting your routine tire maintenance is pressure. Driving on poorly inflated tires can lead to a variety of problems:

Overinflated tires are more vulnerable to damage, which can lead to a sudden blowout while driving on the road.
On the other hand, underinflated tires wear out faster because they need to compensate for the lack of air.

Tires have their own recommended PSI levels to keep them in good condition. Properly inflated tires can give you better mileage, fuel economy, and a longer tire life span.

Inspect Your Tire’s Tread Depth

Tread depth is the distance between the tire’s tread and the bottom of its grooves. The more you drive, the thinner the tread gets due to constant wear and tear. If you have too little tire tread, it can cause unsafe driving conditions. Your tires lose their grip on the road, making it harder to control your car, especially if the roads are wet.

The minimum tread depth requirement is at least 2/32 of an inch. It’s recommended that once your depth gets to 2/32, it’s time for you to buy a new set of tires to keep you safe on the road.

To know if you still have enough tread, you have to do the coin test. Simply insert an upside-down penny or a quarter in one of your tire’s treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln or Washington’s head, that means you need to have the tires replaced as soon as possible.

Rotate and Balance Your Tires

To have an equal amount of wear in all of your tires, you need to rotate your tires. Tire rotation is the process of moving your front tires to the back and vice versa. It helps even out wear and prolongs the life of your tires.

However, rotating your tires isn’t enough. After rotation, you need to balance them as well. This is the process of correcting the uneven distribution of weight in the wheels.

Keeping your tires in good condition prevents any unexpected accidents on the road. If you need tire repair services, all you need to do is contact Graham Tire. Our expert mechanics and tire professionals will help you maintain your vehicle and protect your investment.

Keeping Your Muffler Exhaust System in Good Condition

Car owners and drivers often overlook a car’s muffler exhaust system because they aren’t always in view. But their maintenance and repair should always be high on the priority list because of how important they are.

Keeping your muffler in its tip-top shape will help your car perform better and prevent you from paying for expensive car repairs. Here are a few things you need to know about your muffler’s maintenance.

What Can You Do To Keep Your Muffler Well-Maintained?

Failing to take care of your vehicle’s muffler exhaust system can cause bigger issues than failing an emission test. Here are a few things you can do to keep it well-maintained.

Look Out for the Warning Signs

The first thing you need to do is look out for any warning signs in the exhaust system. Common signs would be loud noises, excessive smoke, and foul smells. Leaking fluids from the exhaust, rust, loose parts and reduced fuel economy can also indicate that maintenance is required immediately and should be done by a professional mechanic.

Keep Your Undercarriage Clean

Since muffler problems are due to moisture exposure, keeping your undercarriage clean can already go a long way. You should park your car in a dry place to let your car’s underside dry off. Not only will it protect your undercarriage from rust, but also protects it from prolonged exposure to weather.

When cleaning your car, use a pressure washer to clean off the undercarriage. It will remove salt that can corrode your car’s underside. Many automatic car washes can also clean your undercarriage, so utilize this feature whenever you can.

Have Your Engine Checked During Car Maintenance

A poorly performing engine can lead to premature muffler failure. Whenever you need to get your car checked by a mechanic, be sure to address any engine problems as well. Keeping your engine well-tuned and performing properly can prevent many muffler problems in the future.

Keeping your mufflers performing well does not need to be complicated. If you ever need an auto repair shop that you can depend upon, contact us at Graham Tire. We will look into your vehicle and give you top-quality car service. We have four locations within Lincoln, NE.

Jump-starting Your Car During an Emergency 101

Jump-starting your vehicle gives your car battery enough energy to let you drive to the nearest car repair shop. But if done incorrectly, it can lead to serious damage to your vehicle. Here are some things you need to keep in mind to jump-start your car correctly.

Things You’ll Need

To jump-start a car, you’ll need a pair of working jumper cables and another vehicle that can supply enough power from their battery. Avoid using hybrid or electric cars for this because they can damage your vehicle’s internal electronics. Do not attempt to jump-start a damaged or leaking car battery. Doing so can start a fire.

How To Jump-start Your Car

Once you have the necessary things for this operation, jump-starting your car will be easy. Here are some steps that you need to follow.

Step 1: Park the two vehicles close to each other and turn both of their engines off.

Step 2: Connect the red cables to the positive terminals of the batteries of the two cars.

Step 3: Connect one end of the black cable to the negative terminal of the good battery. Meanwhile, attach the other end of the black cable to an unpainted metal surface away from the disabled battery. You can attach it to the chassis if there’s no other metal nearby. Never connect the black cable to the dead battery’s negative terminal, as it can lead to an explosion.

Step 4: Keep both engines off for about three minutes before starting the working car’s engine for about a minute.

Step 5: After a minute has passed, turn on the car’s engine with the dead battery and leave both vehicles idle for about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Turn off both cars and carefully disconnect the leads in the reverse order they were connected. Make sure that the leads of the cables do not come in contact with each other as you remove them.

Step 7: Try turning the car’s ignition with the dead battery to see if it will start up properly.

Once you’ve successfully powered up your car, it’s best if you drive it for at least 15-30 minutes so it can let the alternator add power to the battery. If you’re still having trouble starting the car, contact a professional mechanic as soon as possible. Get in touch today with Graham Tire. We have four locations around Lincoln, NE.

Tips on Doing a Tire Check

Having healthy tires gives you maximum safety on the road while driving. Doing a thorough tire check lets you be more aware of your tires’ current status and detect any present issues. You may be wondering how to do this properly. Here are a few things that can help when doing a tire inspection.

Look for Signs of Wear and Tear

An excellent way to know if your tires are still in good condition is to look for any signs of wear and tear. If you see that your tires have irregular tire wear and poor sidewall condition, then it’s time for you to buy a new set.

Visually inspect the tires and gently rub your hand over the tread. If you notice any irregularities in the pattern, they indicate uneven tire wear. You can also try wetting the tire and driving over a clean, smooth area. The tire prints left behind can show you the current status of your tires.

Another sign is the occurrence of vibrations while you’re driving. This means that your tires are already uneven, and they are in old and deformed condition.

Evaluate Your Tires’ Tread

Healthy tires have enough tread depth to ensure traction, especially if it’s rainy. Driving on bald tires on wet surfaces results in a dangerous condition known as hydroplaning. Hydroplaning happens when your tires lose their grip on the road because water is not channeled properly, making you slip and slide.

A great way to inspect your tread is by doing the coin test. Insert a small coin, like a quarter, upside down inside the tread. If you can see the top of George Washington’s head, that means that your tires are already worn out.

Inspect Your Tire Pressure

Another thing you should look out for is your tires’ air pressure. Tires generally lose about 1psi (pounds per square inch) every month. That means if you don’t look after them, you can end up with a flat tire.

Your car has a tire pressure monitoring system that warns you if your tire pressure is already too low. Use a tire pressure gauge to check if your tires are properly inflated.

Rotate Your Tires

It is generally recommended to have your tires rotated. Rotating them evens out the wear and tear and can even extend their life. It would be best if you did this every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. If you’re unsure, consult the owner’s manual or have your tires checked by a tire specialist.

Tire health is an important aspect to be mindful of when keeping your car in good condition. Contact Graham Tire today for car maintenance and additional tire services.

Should You Use Winter Tires or All-Season Tires?

Buying brand new tires for your car can be tricky, especially during the winter months. You have to look into many factors like grip, traction, and performance. If you are not sure whether to get a set of all-season tires or winter tires, then read on.

What Are All-Season Tires?

All-season tires are designed to offer versatile performance in most driving situations. It is more suitable for areas with wet and dry conditions all year long. First released by the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in 1977, this type of tire was launched to remove the inconvenience of switching between summer and winter tires. Most new cars today come with factory-installed all-season tires.

Although they are called “all-season,” this type of tire only offers moderate performance. It doesn’t have the same kind of grip and handling similar to a summer tire, nor does it have enough traction for winter. Tire manufacturers had to make a few adjustments so they could make a jack-of-all-trades type of tire.

What Are Winter Tires?

Meanwhile, winter or snow tires are specifically designed to tackle snow, ice, and slush. This type uses a different rubber and tread compound that stays softer and more flexible during the cold weather. It also has differently designed grooves, channels, and edges that can dig into snow and push water away. Because of these, it offers excellent handling and safety during freezing temperatures.

But these tires are only for winter. Once the temperatures warm up again, you’ll have to switch back to your summer or all-season tires. Using winter tires during warm weather can actually weaken their performance in the long run as they wear faster.

Should You Use Winter or All-Season Tires?

The type of tire you choose should all depend on where you live and what driving situations you frequently face. If you live in an area where constant snow and icy roads are always a problem, you should have snow tires for your car during winter. But, if you live in a place that does not always experience heavy snowfall, then all-season tires are your best option.

Knowing when to use winter and all-season tires can help guarantee your safety while driving. If you need quality auto services and tire repair, contact Graham Tire today and schedule an appointment.

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