Step1
Check Tire Pressure Monthly
(We discussed tire pressure in considerable depth in another article here on eHow, but it bears brief repeating this week as the simplest and most cost effective way to increase tire life and fuel economy.)
Over- and under-pressurized tires wear unevenly, ride uncomfortably, unfavorably affect rolling resistance and fuel economy, and fail or blow out unexpectedly. Since tire pressure largely depends on ambient temperature, it is particularly important to check tire pressures with seasonal temperature changes to maintain safe and proper inflation.
Tires should be inflated to the manufacturer's cold specifications. These specifications are different for each vehicle make and model, and can be found on a placard on the driver's door, fuel door, trunk lid, glove box, or console, or in the owner's manual. These specifications have been engineered to safely bear the weight of each vehicle and its passengers.
Tire pressures should be checked once a month with a reliable tire gauge when the tires are "cold," in the morning before or several hours after the tires have been driven. When a vehicle is driven, road friction generates heat and increases tire pressure, giving a "hot" pressure reading. Deflating hot tires to the cold specification may dangerously under-inflate the tires and cause them to fail, or blow out.
Tires that lose more than 1 or 2 psi in thirty days should be checked for leaks and properly repaired by a tire professional.
Step2
Inspect Tires Monthly
This is a simple matter of looking at and feeling your tires at the same time you check your tire pressures every month. This takes only a minute or so per tire.
When looking at your tires, there are several things to look for. Look for uneven wear; humps or bumps in the tread area; unexpectedly worn edges, particularly if worn considerably more than the center of the tread; unexpectedly worn center part of the tread; nails or other foreign objects in the tread or sidewalls; splits or cuts in the tread or sidewalls; bubbles/bulges on the inner and outer sidewalls, gaping and excessive weather cracking, particularly in a complete circle around the bead and around the tread at sidewall); and other oddities.
A normal "oddity" is a dimple in the sidewall, where the belts in the sidewall overlap at a seam and do not stretch as much as the surrounding sidewall. This seems particularly noticeable in select Goodyear tires. Such dimples are a normal occurrence and are no cause for concern.
In addition to visually inspecting your tires, you may find it useful to feel the wear conditions of your tires. Do this by lightly running your hand over the middle of the tread as far around the tire as you can; around both edges of the tires as far as you can, watching out for any steel belts which may be protruding from the tires (these can prick your fingers and hands and draw blood). While feeling your tires, you're also looking for bulges, bumps, ripples, smooth spots and foreign objects.
You also need to remember to inspect tread depth as you inspect your tires. Every tire has wear bars running across the tread of the tire. These wear bars are 2/32nds in height. When the tire is worn down to the wear bars, the wear bars will make a smooth, visible line across the tread. When any point of the tread, including the edges, wears down to the wear bars, or farther, the tires must be replaced immediately. Tires with 2/32nds tread or less are illegal in most states and cause for a quick ticket.
If you find anything unusual or worn smooth on your tires, they should be immediately inspected by a trained professional, and replaced if necessary.
Step3
Balance & Rotate Tires Every 5000-7000 Miles
While a tire may be rated for 40K, 65K or more miles, its usable life may be severely shortened by failing to balance and rotate your tires as prescribed by industry standards.
A tire that has been driven out of balance for a long period of time will hop and develop an uneven wear pattern which becomes more pronounced over time, affecting ride quality at the same time, until the tire is no longer safe. An out of balance tire may also lead to slipped and separated belts, and prematurely wears suspension and steering components such as shocks, struts, tie rod ends and bushings, requiring extensive and expensive mechanical repairs.
Under normal conditions, front tires generally wear faster than rear tires, and wear more on both edges, because they carry more than half the vehicle weight and endure the ongoing stresses of cornering. If these front tires are never rotated, they will wear smooth on both edges prematurely.
Balancing and rotating tires every 5000-7000 miles may increase tire life as much as 30%. Not to mention giving drivers a considerably smoother ride. It may be easier to remember to balance and rotate your tires with every other oil change, assuming that your oil is changed at 2500 to 3500 mile intervals.
As a side note, in one case, I drove a set of 60,000-mile rated tires slightly more than 80,000 miles before I removed the first pair from service to prepare for the upcoming winter! These tires were balanced and rotated regularly.
Step4
Check Alignment Every Year
Most people don't think about an alignment until the steel belts show through on their front tires, but every vehicle's alignment should be checked once a year, according to industry standards, to maintain optimum tire wear, fuel economy, and vehicle safety.
When a vehicle is misaligned, the vehicle may pull to the left or right, the tires may wear on either the inside or outside edge, and/or the tread may become feathered. In all cases, if the vehicles is not aligned, the tires will eventually wear to the point they become unsafe. Even if a vehicle does not pull, it may still be out of alignment and wearing out tires much sooner than necessary. Misaligned vehicles also exhibit greater rolling resistance and consume more fuel.
While a bad tire can make a car or truck appear to pull to the left or the right, one sure sign of an alignment problem is excessive wear on either edge of the tires, particularly on the front. Most alignment problems occur on the front axle, but most vehicles' rear alignment can also be affected.
Some people think that tires worn on the edges mean a poor quality or bad tire. That is not the case. If a vehicle is out of alignment, every tire put on the vehicle will wear in an identical pattern as the tire(s) that were replaced, because the problem is with the vehicle, not the tires. You can put the most expensive or the cheapest economy tire you can find on the vehicle, but they will both wear similarly to the previous tires if your vehicle is misaligned.
Alignments are not expensive. Two wheel alignments typically cost about the same as a single standard passenger tire, and four wheel alignments cost only slightly more. If a vehicle has worn parts, those parts will need to be replaced in order for the vehicle to be properly aligned. Worn parts, of course, will incur additional parts and labor charges. On the other hand, skipping an alignment or ignoring an alignment problem means premature tire wear, more frequent tire replacement, and reduced fuel economy.
If you plan to have your vehicle's alignment checked at the same time every year, it will help you remember to have it done. For example, a lot of our customers check their alignment in the spring, before the summer travel season begins. This is when many people do most of their driving and take long trips across the country.
Step5
Stop by Your Local Tire Dealer
It cannot be repeated often enough that tire professionals know the most about tires and wear conditions. If drivers are uneasy or unsure about their tires for any reason, even for just the sake of convenience and peace of mind, they should stop by their local tire dealer and ask them to inspect the tires on their vehicle. In just a few short minutes, a properly trained tire technician will be able to check for proper tire inflation, wear, tread depth, and overall condition. Of course, he or she can also answer any questions about remaining tread life, etc.
And if a tire needs to be replaced immediately, they can do that, too, and promptly get your vehicle safely back on the road and riding smooth.
To get more mileage out of your tank and your tires, your tires must have the least rolling resistance as possible.
Novice 
