mechanic changing a tireMany people take their tires for granted when they head out on the road. Yet, tires are the only part of your vehicle that has contact with the asphalt. As a result, they influence handling, riding, braking and overall safety.

Multiple factors involving your tires affect your vehicle’s performance, including air pressure, tread depth, balance and alignment. Before you find yourself hydroplaning or going through gas at a faster rate, be sure to think about the following points.

Maintenance at Home

There are several easy steps vehicle owners can take to check the appearance and performance of their tires on their own.

Tire Pressure

How crucial is tire pressure to your car’s performance?

  • If the tire is consistently under-inflated, it can experience more wear over time. If the light on your dashboard doesn’t come on, you’ll notice more wear on the outer treads, feel the car pull to one side or have a tire that blows far sooner than expected. With time, the tires place more stress on your car, causing it to burn through fuel quicker.
  • Over-inflated tires can also experience wear quicker, place more stress on the side walls and won’t last as long. A clear sign is noticing more wear down the center and less on the edges.

On your own, get in the habit of checking your tire pressure at least once a month and well before taking any long trips. You might need to check the pressure levels more often if you drive over potholes or debris or live in a colder climate. At the same time, doing these checks might reveal an issue – such as a nail stuck in your tire or air leak – that’s affecting your tire’s pressure.

To check tire pressure:

  • Plan it before you’re about to drive or after your car has cooled down.
  • Know the PSI, based on the figure inside your owner’s manual or the number right inside your car’s door.
  • Use the tire gauge on every tire, including the spare in your trunk.
  • If you can only check the pressure when it’s hot out, add 4 to 5 PSI to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • If you have to deflate the pressure, never do so on a hot tire.

Tread Wear

Aside from issues related to inflation, your tire treads can indicate additional issues with your vehicle:

  • Excess wear on one edge: Your car could have alignment issues.
  • Erratic or uneven wear, known as cupping: This sign could point to a balance issue or indicate the shock absorbers or other suspension parts have worn out.
  • Raised treads or sidewall: Your tire is experiencing structural issues. Particularly, the belts in the carcass have started to separate.

Although these issues indicate professional maintenance may be needed, even wear may indicate your car simply needs one or more tires replaced. To determine if the treads have worn down too far, consider doing the quarter or penny test at home:

  • Quarter: Slip a quarter into the tread groove, with the top of Washington’s head facing downward. If you can’t see the top of his head, your tires still have at least 4/32 inches of tread left – an acceptable depth. If you can see the top of his head, your tires will need to be replaced soon.
  • Penny: Position the penny like you did the quarter. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your treads are less than 2/32 inches deep – below the legal minimum and a cause for concern. At this point, your tires may even have bald patches running across and you’ll find yourself taking as much as 25-percent longer to stop.

Professional Maintenance

When you discover an issue with your tire pressure or treads, it’s time to take the vehicle to a mechanic for the following professional services.

Rotation

The front and wheel tires perform different duties when it comes to steering and braking and support different loads. As a result, your set experiences uneven degrees of wear. To prevent one pair from blowing out ahead of the other, tire rotation is recommended every 5,000 to 7,000 miles.

Balance

Balance further influences the degree of wear your tires may experience. When your tires are balanced correctly, weights reduce the amount of vibrations and uneven wear to the surface. If you’ve been feeling vibrations whenever you drive, your car’s tires may need this service.

Alignment

Your vehicle’s manufacturer has specific wheel alignment settings. When these are altered beyond the accepted range, your tires may start to experience uneven wear, reduce fuel economy or affect handling. Aside from when a new set is put on, your tires may need to be aligned when:

  • Your car starts to drift or pull to one side.
  • Your steering wheel doesn’t feel right or perform as expected.

Whether you need your tires replaced, realigned or rotated, reach out to DaSilva’s to schedule a maintenance appointment. For available times, give our Naugatuck location a call today.