Many people take the tires on their vehicles for granted. They do nothing about them unless one goes flat or if they happen to notice that one is looking a bit lower than the others. However, your tires are an important part of your vehicle. They require regular maintenance and inspections. Luckily, with a little work and time your tires will last a long time. Here are a few tips to help keep your tires in good condition and why you need to do so.
Tire Pressure
Checking the tire pressure is a simple, but important task. A tire that is not properly inflated will cause you to use more gas, will not grip the road properly, and make it harder to steer the vehicle. It can cause you to have an accident that damages the vehicle and injures people. Walk around the auto before you get in it to drive and look at the tires. If one looks a bit low, or seems to have a flat area on the bottom, check the air pressure. If you do not have a gauge at home, check at the nearest gas station that has an air pump. You can find the proper air pressure required on a sticker inside the driver's door or in your owner's manual.
Tread
As you drive, the tread on the tires wears down. Once the tread is too thin, the tire may pop unexpectedly, causing you to swerve all over the road and possibly have an accident. To check the tread, use a penny. Place the penny in between the treads with Lincoln's head going in first. The tread should be deep enough to at least reach the top of the head. If the head is totally visible, it is time to have the tires replaced. Check each tire in a few spots to be sure your tires are safe.
Balance and Alignment
Tires are not placed on the vehicle to be perfectly perpendicular to the road. This means that certain parts of the rubber are on the ground more than other parts. These parts will wear down quicker. When the tires are not balanced and aligned correctly, your vehicle will shimmy and shake a bit, making it difficult to maneuver with precision. If you notice that a part of your tire has less tread than the rest, or your car shakes a bit on smooth roads, you should take it into a shop to have the tires checked and realigned.
Do not take your tires for granted. A blow out can cause a serious accident. A bit of maintenance, and knowing when to replace them will not only increase the life of the tires, but could increase yours as well. Contact a company, like King George Truck & Tire Center, for more help.
I have never loved taking care of my car, but about two years ago, I realized that I had really hit rock-bottom. My vehicle seemed to be having a range of different problems, and it was really frustrating to see how much it was impacting my ability to get things done. Instead of heading to appointments and taking care of issues around the house, I was always dealing with a sputtering, troubled vehicle. I wanted to do something to ensure that I wouldn't get stranded in my car, so I started paying more attention to making things right. Check out this blog to learn how to take care of a car properly.