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.
