Proper maintenance has positive correlations with each aspect of driving and vehicle performance. The right technique and ideas will help with your vehicle’s performance, and even with mileage. New and experienced car owners have something to benefit from tire maintenance. Get started to save on fuel and improve your tire longevity.

Maintenance is key to top performance

That’s something to remember. It might seem like a small tire inspection is unnecessary, or that using your winter tires year-round won’t matter, but small adjustments to tires will have a lasting impact. Whether your priorities are budget, performance, tire longevity, safety, or appearance, tire maintenance plays into it.

Budget

It’s as simple as this: poorly maintained tires are more likely to wear, suffer damage, or need replacing. These scenarios require the driver to spend money to repair or replace their tires. If the tire is properly maintained, it will last longer, and after the initial investment of a quality set of tires, there’s a lower chance of spending avoidable dollars.

Performance

A tire that isn’t properly inflated or has worn tread won’t perform as well. It will take more fuel to rotate the tires and the traction will falter. Lower traction affects handling, braking, accelerating, and turning. The drive won’t be as smooth—or as quiet.

Tire longevity

Consider an indoor plant. It will die if it isn’t given sunlight and water. There are certain things they need to last and grow. Tires might not grow, but they certainly won’t last if they aren’t met with maintenance. Tires need inflation, inspection, aligning, rotation, and balancing.

Safety

Safety goes hand in hand with performance. If a tire can’t perform optimally, it can’t provide its safest drive. As the tire’s traction is compromised, the ability to grip the road lowers, and the chances of hydroplaning or slipping on ice are raised.

Appearance

There’s nothing wrong with having pride in the way a vehicle looks. Often, it’s something that owners invest in, so not only do they want it to perform well, they want it to look good and feel like it matches their style. 

Tires can impact a vehicle’s appearance as drivers choose styles with studs, enforced sidewalls, or wide treads, for example. Proper tire maintenance will ensure the tire is scuff, scrape, and puncture-free.

Tire maintenance checklist

  1. Inspect

Start by inspecting the tire:

  • Check tread depth
  • Check if they’re inflated to the recommended tire pressure
  • Check the age of the tire (this will help you gauge when to replace them, especially if the tires came with a used vehicle)
  • Check for bulges or surface damage
  • Ensure your driving habits match what the tire is made for
  • Check for cracking or separation within the sidewall and treads
  1. Align

Take your vehicle in to have the tires aligned. This ensures the tires are in the right positions, at the right angles, for proper traction and handling. Hitting potholes, driving over curbs, or traversing rough terrain might mean your vehicle will need a tire alignment sooner than others. If the tires are wearing at different levels, the steering is off, the vehicle pulls in one direction, or there’s a vibration while driving, get a tire alignment.

  1. Rotate

Have the tires rotated. Switching their positions underneath the vehicle ensures they wear at the same rate so one tire won’t need replacing sooner than necessary and the drive remains as safe as possible. Tire rotations will save you money.

  1. Balance

Your tires should be properly balanced so equal amounts of weight are taken from the vehicle and connect you with the ground more efficiently.

  1. Inflate

Keep an eye on tire pressure. This affects fuel economy, performance, and safety. The recommended tire pressure is generally found in the owner’s manual or on the inside or the driver’s door jamb. 

Too much pressure creates stiffness within the tire, which can lead to a bumpy ride and an increased risk of puncture. Think of an overly inflated balloon. Find the happy medium because underinflated tires should be avoided too. It will cost much more in fuel to get your vehicle moving. Don’t rely on appearances to gauge tire pressure. A tire can lose up to half its air pressure before looking like a flat.

Tips to improve tire longevity

  1. Storing

Many drivers have two sets of tires: a winter set, and a set for the remainder of the year. How the tires are stored can also affect their longevity. Make sure they’re clean when they go into storage, that they’re wrapped in an air-tight seal to protect them from contaminants, and that they’re standing up, not hanging on hooks. Hanging from a hook for a long time will warp the tire. Keep them cool and dry.

  1. Cleaning

Keep tires parked in the shade or a garage whenever possible. Including when they’re in storage, don’t leave them under the sun which can dry out and crack the rubber. 

  1. Driving

Everyone has different driving habits. Braking hard, taking turns quickly, and frequently driving on rough terrain will take a toll on your tires. While some driving types are unavoidable, consider how your driving affects your tires. Don’t speed over potholes, don’t accelerate so fast that the tires screech on the road, and don’t brake aggressively.

Handling issues independently versus professionally

Common issues the average driver can handle on their own include inspection, inflation, cleaning, storing, and driving habits. These are services you can likely do on your own (although you don’t have to). The following should be left to a professional so you can get into a safe vehicle: alignment, rotation, and balance.

When it’s time to replace your tires

With the above knowledge, you should have a firm grasp of when your tires need replacing. And if you don’t, visit your local tire dealership. When the wear bar on your tire’s tread is exposed, it’s time to replace your tires. 

Find a Sailun tire dealership near you and get a new set of tires that match your driving style without compromising your safety. Search here.