National Car Care Month Tips: Tire Care and Maintenance 101

Apr 2, 2024

April is National Car Care Month, and all month long we’re sharing a series of tips, tricks, and pointers to keep your vehicle in Tip Top Shape. Be sure to follow along on our social media accounts to make sure you don’t miss any of this helpful info.

Today we’re covering Tire Maintenance 101 and how to extend the life of your tires and drive safely on the road!

First up: Tire Rotation and Alignment.

You should be having your tires rotated regularly to ensure even tread wear. In general, it’s recommended to rotate your tires with each oil change or at minimum every other oil change, which on average is about every 3,000 to 7,000 miles. Your driving style, driving habits, and road conditions all affect wear and tear on the tires, and by rotating you’re extending the life of your tires and ensuring even wear. Your mechanic will also inspect the condition of your tires and let you know if they notice uneven wear and tear, as this may be an alignment issue. Your vehicle will occasionally need a realignment to ensure your tires and wheels are adjusted in the right direction to prevent excessive wear or damage. You’ll want to balance your wheels every 15,000 miles or so.

Second on the list: Proper Air Pressure

Your vehicle will have a sticker on the inside of your driver-side door with the posted air pressure requirements for your tires. Additionally, you will be able to locate this information in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Performing a monthly inspection of your tires air pressure using a tire pressure gauge may help you notice leaks or wear and save you from a flat tire. It’s best ot check the vehicle’s tire air pressure in the morning, before you take it out for a drive. Not only does driving on under-inflated tires reduce your fuel efficiency, it decreases your ability to stop safely and can increase your chances of a flat tire or accident. Underinflated tires also wear unevenly and may come unseated from the wheel.

Third: Check tire Tread Depth regularly.

Your tires treads allow your vehicle to grip the road and maintain safe control. Proper tire tread depth can be the difference between safely coming to a stop or skidding out. The tread depth is a vertical measurement between the top of the tread rubber and the bottom of the tire’s deepest grooves, which on average for most vehicles in the US is 10/32” or 11/32”. When vehicles reach 4/32 inch tread depth, it’s time to change and replace your tires, as this increases the chances of hydroplaning and inefficient stopping power to prevent accidents. Check your tread depth using “The Quarter Test” – scan your tire and find the area that has the lowest tread depth, then place the quarter head first into the tire tread. If you can see all of Mr. Washington’s noggin, your tire read is at or below 4/32” and that means you’re in need of new tires!