How to Make Your Tires Last Longer
Tires are essential components of your vehicle, and when they wear out, you need to replace them. They are also some of the more expensive components to replace, so you want to make them last as long as possible, without jeopardizing your safety. The key to long tire life is even tread wear, which depends on correct tire inflation and alignment, as well as regular tire rotation. You can also add to the life of your tires by practicing good driving habits.
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Instructions
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Keep all of your vehicle's tires, including the spare, properly inflated. Check your owner's manual, the driver's door post or in the glove box for the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire pressure. Once a month, use a tire gauge to check pressures before you drive anywhere, while the tires are cold. If the tires are warm, which will happen after even a short drive, the air pressure increases and you won't get an accurate reading. If necessary, drive to a service station to add air, but be sure to use the cold tire reading as your base air pressure. Recheck the pressure after filling the tire, and add more air or release some, as needed, until the pressure is correct.
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Check your vehicle's alignment regularly, or if you notice any handling problems. If your suspension system is out of alignment, it will cause uneven wear on your tires. Remember that vehicles with front-wheel-drive or independent rear suspensions need a four-wheel alignment. At the same time, make sure that all of your tires are properly balanced, as unbalanced tires also wear unevenly.
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Rotate your tires regularly. Each tire location on a car carries a different weight and individual wear pattern from turns, so moving them around keeps the wear even. Follow the recommendations in the owner's manual for the mileage between rotations, usually about 5,000 miles. Many car owners rotate tires and change the oil at the same time, especially if a service center is doing the work. Follow the rotation pattern recommended by the vehicle or tire manufacturer for your type of vehicle and tires. If your car has a full-size spare, include it in the rotation pattern.
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Follow good driving habits. Avoid fast starts, stops and turns, which cause excessive tread wear. Steer around potholes and objects in the road, which can not only damage the tires, but may also contribute to alignment problems. Keep the tires away from the curb when you parallel park. Follow the vehicle manufacturer's guidelines for weight loads. Going beyond the maximum recommended weight compresses your tires, causing them to change shape and wear incorrectly.
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References
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