Tire Maintenance – How To Make Your Tires Last Longer

A new set of tires is surely a worthy investment, but they don’t come cheap. That’s why it’s so important to make them last as long as possible. Our tips on tire maintenance and how to make your tires last longer will not only save you money but will also help keep your family safe on the road.

Regularly Check Your Tire Air Pressure

Checking the air pressure regularly is the most important thing you can do to extend the life of your tires. Low or uneven pressure in your tires can cause your car to be sluggish and waste gas. Gas mileage decreases when tires are under-inflated because it takes more energy to make them roll. Gas mileage can improve by as much as 3.3 percent when tires have the correct air pressure.

Low pressure can also increase wear and stopping distance as well as your risk of having a blowout. On the other hand, maintaining proper air pressure improves both handling and fuel efficiency.

Changes in weather and temperature can affect the pressure in your tires, which is another reason to check them regularly. Here are important facts about the air pressure and your tires:

• Air pressure should be checked once a month at the very least. Tires can lose a pound of per square inch (PSI) of pressure each month.
• Cold temperatures can lower your tire’s air pressure, and warm weather can raise it.
• Always inflate your tire per the car manufacturer’s recommendation.

Rotating, Balancing and Aligning Your Tires

Rotating your vehicle’s tires on a regular schedule is crucial to maintain even wear and tear. Different types of cars put wear on their tires in different ways. For example, vehicles with front-wheel drive wear their front tires faster, while rear-wheel drive wears out the back tires. All-wheel drive vehicles can also see uneven wear. We recommend rotating your tires every 5,000 miles.

Balancing your tires is also essential to their longevity. Each tire has a spot that is heavier than the rest of it. When your tires are off balance, they vibrate and wear faster. Our mechanics use a state-of-the-art machinery and weighting system to balance and adjust each one of your tires so that their weight is even. We recommend balancing your tires every 3,000 to 6,000 miles to maintain a smooth ride.

Proper alignment is also an important factor in tire maintenance. When alignment is severely off, your steering wheel will vibrate and your car will tend to drift to one side or the other. Simply bumping a curb or driving over a pothole can throw your alignment out of whack. When your car is properly aligned, fuel efficiency is higher and wear and tear is minimized. We recommend checking your alignment every six months or anytime your vehicle doesn’t feel aligned.

How Driving Calmly Helps Your Tires Last Longer

Driving carefully and following the speed limit will help your tires age well. Frequent braking, cornering, and heavy acceleration increases stress on your tires, causing them to wear faster.

Are the edges on your front tires worn? This could be a sign that you speed around curves. By driving slower and at an even pace your tires will last longer. Trying to avoid potholes (safely of course) or driving over them slowly is another way to prevent tire wear. Potholes frequently cause flat tires and damage to rims. Driving over a pothole can also damage your suspension and steering components.

Keep Your Tires Out of the Sun

Soaking in the summer sun may feel good to you, but it’s not good for your tires. The UV rays can cause tires to crack and weather, especially on the sidewalls and shoulder. Cars with all-weather tires that are used year-round shouldn’t be parked in direct sunlight. Be sure to keep your seasonal tires stored in a cool space away from the sun.

Tire Maintenance By a Superior Auto Body Shop

Following these tips for maintaining your tires will help them last and save you from the cost and inconvenience of replacing them sooner rather than later. They will also help improve your gas mileage and offer a smoother and safer ride while extending the life of your car.

The experienced technicians at Zingani Collision are available for all of your tire maintenance needs. And when it is time to finally replace them, we will guide you in choosing the best and most affordable new tires for your vehicle.

Zingani Collision has decades of experience specializing in superior auto body and collision repair for all makes and models. Owner Frank Zingani is a second generation body shop owner with 40 years of experience who started working in his father’s garage when he was 10 years old. Zingani Collision works with a variety of insurance companies and offers payment plans, 24-hour towing, and pickup/delivery service. The technicians at Zingani Collision will treat you like one of the family and care for your car as if it were their own. Our shop is conveniently located in Aston, Delaware County. Call us at 610-361-0084.