Tires are the integral part of your car and it is very important to maintain them properly for your safety, increased tire life and for saving on gas expenses.

Here are few tips, suggestions and reminders to help you, which we have compiled from various tire manufacturers website, manuals etc.

Air pressure:

Proper inflation is essential for the performance and longevity of the tire and reducing your gas consumption. It’s also essential for the ride quality and safety of your vehicle. Tires cannot do their job properly when under-inflated or over-inflated. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that gas mileage can be lowered by 0.4% for every 1 PSI (pound per square inch) drop in the pressure of all four tires. To put in perspective, if you drive an average of 50 miles/day, get 20 miles to a gallon and gas price is $3.00/Gallon, then you will spent $50/year and $114/year if your tires are under-inflated by 5 or 10 psi respectively! The Rubber Manufacturers Association states that 85 percent of drivers surveyed do not check their tire pressure properly, and many don’t even know where to find the recommended proper tire inflation for their vehicle.

Keep in mind that it’s possible for a passenger tire initially inflated to 35 psi (pounds per square inch) to lose 1 psi each month.

Be sure to properly check all four tires cold once a month and before a long trip. Whether you have a full-size or mini spare, make sure that it is properly inflated as well.

If you don’t know the proper inflation air pressure for your tires, check at one of the following places on your vehicle:

• In the vehicle owners manual.
• On the vehicle’s door jamb. (Often, a vehicle information placard is located on the door jamb along with the recommended tire inflation pressure.)
• Inside the fuel hatch filler flap. (In some vehicles.)
• The glove compartment door. (In some vehicles.)

But NOT on the tire. The inflation pressure shown on the tire sidewall is only the maximum tire inflation pressure.

Tire Rotation:

Regular rotation helps extend the life of your tires, saving time and money in the long run. For rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from your vehicle and moved to a different position. This ensures that all of the tires wear evenly and last longer. If no period is specified in your vehicle owner’s manual, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. If you have a full-size spare, it should be included in the rotation process.

Vehicle Alignment

Your vehicle is properly aligned when all of its suspension and steering components are working smoothly and when its tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. If you notice uneven tread wear, it could be due to a misalignment and your vehicle should be serviced by a professional.

Alignment generally refers to the adjustment of a vehicle’s front and rear suspension parts. Proper alignment helps ensure that your vehicle handles correctly and will help increase the life and performance of your tires.

When to Check Alignment

Daily impacts such as potholes and railroad crossings, as well as more severe circumstances, e.g. accidents, can knock your vehicle out of alignment. You should have the alignment checked if:

• You’ve hit something
• You see a wear pattern developing on the shoulders of the tires
• You notice a difference in your vehicle’s handling

How Wheels Are Aligned

Alignment involves adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they have the proper toe in and camber. The three main adjustments made in alignment are camber, caster, and toe.

Tire Balancing

If your tires are unbalanced, you’ll notice vibration. This can lead to driver fatigue, premature or irregular tire wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle’s suspension. Your tires should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they are remounted after repair. Check your tire balance at the first sign of vibration or shimmy.

Balancing compensates for the weight of the tire and wheel assembly after the tire is mounted. A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. This can cause eccentric treadwear and vibration, plus increase the stress on the front-end parts, causing them to wear prematurely.

Why Balancing Is Important

Balancing means compensating for both the weight of the tire and wheel after the tire is mounted. A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. This:

• Can cause off-center treadwear
• Can cause vibration
• Can increase stress on front-end parts
• May cause front-end parts to wear prematurely

When to Balance

Have your wheels balanced when:

• A tire is replaced
• A balance weight is moved or removed
• You purchase new tires

How a Wheel Is Balanced

To balance the wheel, your mechanic will use a balancing machine to determine where the heavy spots are. Weights are then attached to the exterior or interior of the wheel to counteract centrifugal forces acting on the heavy areas when the wheel is turning. This will eliminate vertical bouncing (static balance) and side-to-side wobble (dynamic balance).

Review the above information and keep them in mind and include this as part of your routine car maintenance schedule and you can enjoy your tires for a long time!

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