Proper Tire Maintenance Means Safer Driving

The tires on your vehicles are your direct connection to the road. Modern tires are designed specifically to handle different types of weather and driving situation.  If the tire pressure is not correct or if the tires a too worn down, then they cannot do their job. Tire pressure should be checked regularly – at least once a month. The most important aspect of tire maintenance is proper inflation of your tires. 75% of drivers wash their cars monthly while only 1 out of 7 (14%) correctly checks tire pressure. For those who have vehicles that were made within the last five years, there is a tire pressure monitor installed within the vehicle; this makes things a whole lot easier. To find out the proper tire pressure refer to the owner’s manual. It is also important for tires to be rotated to insure all tires wear equally. 40% of drivers have not rotated their tires within the recommended interval of at least 8,000 miles. A healthy habit many people follow is to rotate their tires with every oil change. Tire alignment should also be checked regularly, or if you feel the car pulling to one side. Improper alignment causes increased tire and suspension components wear and poor handling. In worst case improper alignment may throw your car into a skid, especially on a wet road. Properly done alignment will make your car’s ride a lot more enjoyable.

Tire pressures and tread conditions are even more critical for low-profile, stiff-sidewall, high-performance tires. With these vehicles the tires are considered a component of the suspension system. High-performance tires greatly contribute to the car’s handling and grip, offer increased road feel and feedback, and allow higher cornering speeds and more aggressive turn entry, among other things. But improper tire maintenance can quickly relegate all of these fun-to-drive characteristics to the low-performance category. Regular rotation of your tires will also help prevent irregular and premature wear. Proper tire pressure and alignment will keep your vehicle safe.