Classic Kia of Waukegan’s Guide to Tire Maintenance

Sep 12, 2023

Here at Classic, our Auto Body Shop is standing by with a team of experienced and knowledgeable service personnel to guide you through the process. If you find yourself in need of a little bit of advice or a refresher on how to do these things, we’re here to help! Of course, it’s always good to be prepared for anything and arm yourself with the basics on vehicle maintenance. That’s why today we’re dedicating some blog space to tire education, to make sure you’re “wheely” well informed on this important safety point. Let’s learn more together.

You should be regularly checking tire air pressure and keeping an eye on the wear-and-tear and tread depth, along with knowing how to gauge when it’s time to swap out to a different type of tire for the season or a change in driving habits. It’s always a great idea to be thinking about your vehicle’s tires, so here’s some tips to get you started.

Learn the different types of tires:

Check with your mechanic or trusted tire installation technician to find the best tires that match your vehicle’s recommended size/type, your driving style and average mileage, local/seasonal weather hazards, and your budget. Here’s a little more information on the types of tires available, and things to consider when selecting the right option for your needs:

Touring Tires – designed for day to day driving, can be used on a broad range of vehicles, available for all-season and summer-only options
Performance Tires – designed for energetic drivers who focus on a more sporty driving style, available for all-season and summer-only options, and focus on features like dry or wet traction
All-Terrain Tires – designed for both street and off-road driving, focusing on toughness and durability and strong off-road features for dirt/mud/ice/etc.
Winter/Snow Tires – designed for maximum grip and traction in winter weather conditions, optimal for cold weather use and not made for warm-weather driving
Donut or Spare Tires – designed for very short term use of no more than 50-70 miles, and are intended only for short term emergency use until you can replace your worn/damaged tire with new ones or get them repaired; these are also not designed to be driven at high speeds and it’s recommended at a max of 50 MPH or below for safety

What to look for when performing regular routine maintenance checks on your tires:

Check your tire pressure monthly, or whenever the temperature changes with a difference of 10º higher or lower, and inflate to the specifications listed in your manual or on the inside of the door panel.

Check your tire’s tread depth each time you check the pressure, and replace the tire if it is worn down to 2/32nds to 4/32nds of an inch. You can insert a penny into the tread groove with President Lincon’s head upside down. If you are able to see the top of Lincoln’s head, you need to replace the tires. Alternatively, if your tire treads are extremely low, you may notice your tire’s “tread wear indicators, which are raised sections between the tire’s treads; if you can see these, replace them immediately.
Make sure to have your tires rotated with each routine service appointment such as an oil change or alignment. This will ensure that your tires wear evenly and safely, reducing the chance of flats due to overuse or extreme wear.

Examine tire treads and sidewalls for any cuts, cracks, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps, or cracks. Take a good look to make sure there are no nails, screws, or other foreign objects lodged between them. If you spot any damage or wear-and-tear, you should bring your car in for a patch by a trusted service employee or a full replacement.
Tires typically last around 50,000 miles, which is about 3 to 5 years average for the typical driver, but this does vary depending on your driving habits, where you live, and where you drive most. Drivers who frequently use unpaved roadways, go off-roading, and those who are “lead-foot drivers” may need to replace them more frequently than average. Check with your trusted mechanic or local tire specialist to assess your needs.

Here are some tools you should keep on hand to make changing tires a breeze:

A manual car jack – used for raising your vehicle higher off the ground so you can remove and swap the flat tire
A Spare tire or donut – swap this in place for the broken/damaged tires
A lug wrench or torque wrench – a special tool designed to remove the nuts attaching your vehicle wheel to the rotors
A portable tire inflator – a mechanical device that either is hand-pumped or more recently, powered by your vehicle’s electrical outlets that can inflate the tire to pressure within minutes.
A tire gauge – A small tool either analog or digital that can help you determine the current air pressure of your tires

Check out these helpful tips and videos to learn more about how to change your tire in an emergency: