Automotive 101 - Caring for Your Tires

Believe it or not, some simple tire care can really help the fuel economy and safety of your vehicle. If you are like a lot of people, you probably think that if your car is rolling, the tires are fine. Not necessarily the case! Follow these tire care tips for improved mileage and a better ride.

Inflate Tires Properly

The manufacturer's recommended tire pressure, or PSI, can be found on the sidewall in small raised lettering. Get as close to this number as possible using a tire gauge the next time you go to the air station. Over-inflated tires tend to wear in the center of the tread pattern, while under-inflated tires wear toward the edges. A good tire gauge can be found at any auto store for a few dollars. Check the tires every couple of weeks to ensure they are correctly inflated!

Rotate the Tires Regularly

Any time your vehicle goes to the shop for a check-up or a brake job, they rotate the tires to extend their life. You can do this at home with a jack and a lug wrench. If your tires have a directional tread pattern, then simply take the front left off and replace it with the rear left so that they are not rolling backward. The front tires tend to wear more quickly because of the turning involved, and even more so on front-wheel drive vehicles.

Keep Aligned

A front-end alignment really helps extend the life of your tires. If one or both of your front tires are going down the road crooked, it will affect not only the life of the tire itself, but also the fuel economy. Any reputable shop can align your vehicle very quickly. Although it does cost a few dollars, it will keep steering components and tires alive much longer.

Balance Your Tires

That slightly annoying wobble in the wheel because your tires aren't quite balanced correctly will definitely hurt them in the long run, as well as shorten the life of suspension and steering components. Just take the vehicle into the local tire shop and they can balance the tires quickly and cheaply. It may not seem important at the time, but a simple balance will prevent a lot of problems "down the road", so to speak.Just follow these simple suggestions and your vehicle and its tires will last a long time. Check the pressure every couple of weeks while inspecting the tires for uneven wear or other problems for a safer, more comfortable trip.