Something as simple as a penny can save you hundreds of dollars when it comes to keeping your car running smoothly. Keeping your tires in their best shape is a job that you can do together with Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary.
Following these easy steps will ensure you get the most life out of your tires and your car. It will also help you get the most out of every gallon of gas. That’s right, your tires affect your gas mileage! If you are driving around on under-inflated tires, you are using more gas than you need. Not to mention, under inflated tires will wear out earlier than properly inflated tires. You can get as much as an extra year of life out of your tires if you just know the best way to maintain them.
Tire Pressure
Once a month, check the pressure of all five of your tires. That’s right, Five! You should include the spare when doing the job. You don’t want to find out the spare is low on air when your on the side of the road and need it. When it’s cold outside the air pressure in your tires drops so check the pressure every few weeks. You can find out what the recommended pressures should be by looking in one of two places. Most vehicles have a sticker on the driver’s door jamb that outlines the recommended tire size and pressures or if you car does not have that sticker, you can find it in the owner’s manual. Look closely, as the rear tires and front tires may have different pressure requirements.
Tread
Check the tread on your tires for uneven wear. All you need for this job is a penny. Hold the penny so that Lincoln is upside down and lower it between the treads on your tire. Abe’s head should disappear between the ribs of the tread. If you can see all of Abe’s head your tread is worn out and it’s time to replace the tire. You should repeat this test across the width of the tire on several spots. If any area of a tire is worn to where you can see Abe’s head, that tire needs to be replaced. While you are examining your tread, you should also look closely to make sure there are no cuts or bulges on the sidewalls of the tires. If you notice that the tread seems to be wearing unevenly, it can be a sign that your car is out of alignment.
Alignment
At Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary we recommend having your car aligned every year. Uneven wear is one sign of an alignment problem. Another is if your car shakes or pulls to one side when you are driving. If you notice any of these things, take it to your Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary to be checked out. When your car is properly aligned your tires last longer and you get better gas mileage.
Rotation
Another important way to make sure your tires wear evenly is to have the tires rotated. If your car has a full-size spare that matches the rest of the tires, it should be included in the rotation as well. A good rule of thumb is to have this done at least every other time you have your oil changed, or every 6,000 miles. Rotating more frequently is preferred to less frequently. It helps to keep the wear across your tires as even as possible. Now if you have front wheel drive car, you should consider rotating the tires every oil change because the front tires do a majority of the work and will wear much faster than the rear. Your owner’s manual may have a different recommendation. If you aren’t sure how often your car needs its tires rotated, ask us at Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary.
Balance
If you notice your steering wheel is vibrating, especially when you are driving on the highway or interstate, you may have a wheel/tire that is out of balance. A tire can get out of balance due to normal use. If you let it go, it can cause rapid wear of your tires, shock absorbers and struts. You may not have realized how many other parts of your car are affected by the condition of your tires! If you think you have a tire that’s out of balance, be sure to make a visit to Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary.
When the rubber hits the road, be sure you are driving on a safe set of tires.