Fall Car Care - Tires

Fall Car Care - Tires

Fall is officially here, and whether you are still experiencing dry days and sunny afternoons, or if the cool fall chill is in the air, foul weather is just around the corner.  Fall is a conversion time.  The hot lazy days of summer is behind us, and the get back to work, back to school, back to busy is well under way. However, foul weather is just around the corner, whether it is the blustery rain soaked days of the Northwest or the harsh snow and winter of the mountains and plains.  It is just around the corner.  Fall is the time to pay attention to your vehicle.  It is far too easy to ignore things that aren't begging for our immediate attention: children, spouses, bosses.  Hey, the car started, got you to where you needed to go, no need to worry about it right now.  Yes, there is. 

Remember that foul weather just around the corner?  It will find you and if you car is not ready for it, it will find you on the side of the road, or stuck in your driveway, or worse.

October is Care Care Month, and while we are still  a couple of days away, don't see why we can't just get started. 

Today's subject is Tires!

Most of us don't just have a few spare $100 dollar bills lying around for new tires, but the fact is, during the life of your vehicle, you are going to need tires.  This statment based on the fact that people hold onto their cars an average of 7 years.  How often you change your tires, is dependant on several factors, but the most important factor, is .....you.  Your driving habits, and have you taken care of your tires.

Why should you bother?  No matter what kind of car you have, no matter how well maintained, the most important thing about your vehicle once it is moving is your tires.  (brakes are also very important, and we will discuss those in a future article).  It is your contact to the road or driving surface, so if you car is running great, and you have bad tires, you are at high risk of losing control.  With bad tires even dry pavement can be a hazard.  Let's not forget the potential for being stuck in the Wal Mart parking lot at midnight with a flat, or driving 65 mph and having it blow out, or having such low tire tread that your car cannot grip the road properly and losing control on corner, or wet pavement. 


Here are some tried and true tips to extend the life of your tires.

Tire pressure:

Regularly check your tire inflation pressure.  If your tires are not inflated enough, faster wear, and also increase fuel consumption.  Check your owner's manual for the appropriate tire pressures for your vehicle.  Tire pressures also vary not only by vehicle but by how the vehicle is loaded.  Your owner's manual will have a guide, it is important to follow these instructions.

Balance:

In a properly balanced wheel, there is no uneven wear, which is often the cause of premature tire failure.  If the wheels are well balanced, uneven compressive forces may act on them.  If your vehicle vibrates at a time when you increase the speed, such as on the hightway, it's a dign of a problem with the balance of a wheel.

Vehicle Load - drive light:

Each load poses three problems at once; your tires wear out faster, your vehicle consumes more fuel and pollutes large quantities of air. We are going to pack our vehicles for pleasure or work, this is a fact.  However, when not traveling, or necessary, reduce the amount of items you are hauling around.  When you do load your vehicle refer to your owner's manual about the best way to load your vehicle, and proper tire inflation for the type of load you carrying.

Tire Rotation

For most vehicle, one pair of tires wears out faster than the other.  A classic example is the vehicle with front drive axle, where the two front tires perform most of the work.  You should regularly change the position of your tires to wear evenly and last longer.  Again, review your owner's manual or talk to the service advisor at your local dealership.  Each brand is a little different.  For example, Subaru recommends you rotate your tires every 6 months or 7500 miles.  The reason:  symmetrical AWD, it is very important that the tread wear on the tires be even.  Nissan, and Ford are a little different.  Tire rotation is relatively inexpense task, and significanlty adds to the life of your tire.

Alignment

At times it is necessary to adjust the wheel alignment.  Not only will your vehicle ride smoother, but incorrect alignment leads to severe premature wear.  While your car is being service and wear is noticed, it is very important to get the alignment.  The cost is far less prohibitive than having to prematurely replace your tires or suffering a blow out.

Suspension

Have your suspension checked.  This is particularly important in older vehicles with older shocks or struts.  Old shocks can lead to premature wear (a silent killer if  you will) as well as endanger your safety.  If your vehicle is "swinging" or "floating" while you are driving you should have your suspension checked immediately.

Tread Wear

Check the tread wear regularly.  Once your tires hit the "yellow" it needs to be in your immediate plans to get them replaced.  The "yellow" is a thin place between, sufficient tread and danger.  I will not quote tread deptsh, as each tire is a little different.  Check your owner's manual, or confer with your service advisor. 

Quality Tire

When it comes time to purchase tires, purchase a quality tire that is designed to last longer.  While they may be more expensive, you can easily get 65-75k out of them, where cheap or bargain, are only going to get you 20-35, at which time will you have to buy a new set, doubling the cost of buying the higher quality in the first place.

I was once told, and after years in the business, I do believe it.  It costs $100 a month to keep your car on the road over its lifetime.  The problem is, we don't have to pay it a $100 at a time, it comes all in one lump some.  So, keep a car fund.  Even with all of the new technologies, and cars are lasting longer, they still require maintenance.  Set a little aside each month, so when those important tires come up, you can replace them with quality tires, save on fuel and keep you and your family safe.

To schedule an appointment for Care Care Month at any Bruce Titus Automotive Group location please follow the link below. 

www.brucetitus.com, and find the location that best serves you.

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Comments

  1. At his time when we can't say about changing weather tires care become a major issue and to solve it, tire's monthly checkup is required for their long term service.
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  2. Hi there! Thank you for sharing your thoughts about car service in your area. I am glad to stop by your site and know more about car service. Keep it up! This is a good read. You have such an interesting and informative page. I will be looking forward to visit your page again and for your other posts as well.
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  3. these tips were really useful for increasing the tire life. Good to share with us.
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  5. Only when something's ripped off is when I believe. Your post should be a guide when buying car tires in new york nissan dealers or everywhere that provides good car quality.

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  6. That worn tire is the result of under or over inflated tires. A properly tire should have even contact to road surface for optimum life.

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  8. Change of weather is one of the main reason why lynbrook honda dealer also suggested us to monitor the condition of our cars. This is for our own safety.

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  9. We know that tires are part of the backbone of a car, and a piece of construction equipment or bicycle. That's why we make sure that even those used nissan Maxima are being checked every time.

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  10. I am planning to apply for our family vehicle in a Novated leases Perth. The car care tips especially on taking good care of car tires is very important to know and fully understand.

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  11. I can honestly confirm that those tips sure work.It may sound like a lot of work,but it will save you a whole lot more.Take a chance,and improve the efficiency of your vehicle.Rugged Ridge



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  12. Of course, there are lots of things to consider in winter for your car tire. Thanks for the valuable tips. There are all-season tires available for winter and everyone should use that to avoid any problem due to car tires. Tire Repair Champaign, IL.

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