I always like watching the Michelin TV ad showing a baby in a tire - with the tagline “Because there’s so much riding on your tires.” It’s so true – our most precious cargo, our children – as well as ourselves, deserve to be transported in a safe environment. As we enter the rainy season (if we really ever have one!) perhaps no other part of your car will impact safe driving as much as your tires. Furthermore, as gasoline prices start creeping up again, it makes financial sense to keep an eye on your tires as well. Here are some tips to make sure the rubber meets the road for you:
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Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Over-inflated tires ride roughly and suffer premature wear at the center of the tread. Under-inflated tires decrease fuel economy as much as 10%, suffer premature wear on the edges, and can overheat and fail at highway speeds. Either way, you will end up replacing your tires earlier than normal. Tires typically lose one pound of pressure per month, so check your tire pressure about once a month when they are cold, following the recommendations in your owner’s manual.
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Have your tread depth and wear patterns checked periodically. Your repair shop can quickly determine from the wear patterns whether your tires have been properly inflated, and can replace them before the tread depth reaches a crucial level. You don’t want to mess around here – low tread depth can severely affect your car’s ability to handle, especially in inclement weather, and greatly increases the chance of a blowout.
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Have your alignment checked every six months, and possibly more often if you drive on rough terrain. Wheels out-of-alignment result in premature tire wear, handling issues, and loss of fuel economy. In the end, you’ll spend a lot less money keeping your expensive tires in good shape instead of replacing them.
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When you do have to replace tires, remember that you don’t have to buy the exact same tires that came on your car. There are plenty of lower priced brands and models that will more than adequately meet your driving needs (unless your name is Mario Andretti!). Consult with your local tire and auto repair facility.
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