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My Tires Are worn Out, Again?
By Kirk Swanda and Ron Wygladalski
"I just bought my tires 30,000 miles ago and I am having to replace them again?" I am sure you have thought this before. At our facility, we hear this all the time. There are many factors that affect the life of your tires: usage, weather, inflation, vehicle alignment, and wheel balance.
The easiest factor to control the wear of your tires is adjusting your driving behaviors. You will help to extend the life of your tires by following the following good driving habits:
1. Obey posted speed limits.
2. Avoid fast starts, stops and turns.
3. Avoid potholes and other objects on the road.
4. Do not run over curbs or hit your tires against the curb when parking or going through the drive-through.
5. Do not overload your vehicle. (Refer to your vehicle's tire information or owner's manual for maximum recommended load.)
You should check your tires, including the spare, at least once a month with an accurate tire gauge when the tires are cold - that is when your vehicle has not been used for at least three hours. Approximately one in every four cars and light trucks has at least one underinflated tire. With tire inflation, underinflation is just as bad as overinflation. Both will cause uneven tire wear. Underinflation will make a tire run dangerously hot and can cause blowouts and tire failure, which will lead to serious accidents. Please note that appearances can be deceiving, a tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat. Overinflation puts unnecessary stress on tires, which can lead to irregular tire wear. For proper tire inflation refer to your owner's manual or the label on the driver's side door edge or in the glove compartment in your vehicle.
Improper alignment of your car's steering mechanisms - front and rear tires and the steering wheel - can reduce the lifespan of your tires by thousands of miles. You should have a reputable automotive repair facility check your alignment if you notice any of the following:
1. Excessive or uneven tire wear.
2. The steering wheel pulling to the left or right.
3. Feeling looseness or wandering when driving down the road.
4. Steering wheel vibration.
5. The steering wheel is not centered when the car is moving straight ahead.
It is important, for even wear of your tires, to have the tires rotated every 5,000-6,000 miles or every other oil change and have them balanced with every other rotation. Failure to rotate your tires will cause the front tires to wear out earlier than the rear tires and can cause uneven wear patterns.
When shopping for tires, it is usually best to replace all four at the same time - if you have been rotating your tires as recommended. You should also think about, and let your repair facility know, the type of driving you do most often and choose tires that are right for you.
For any questions about your car, send your e-mail to: info@cba-suwanee.com
(Kirk Swanda and Ron Wygladalski are with Christian Brothers Automotive in Suwanee, Georgia)
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