When it comes to vehicle safety, wearing your seatbelt or making sure your brakes don’t squeal are probably the first things that come to mind. However, your tires also play a significant role in making your car or truck safe to drive. Proper tire care can help prevent flat tires and dangerous blowouts. It can also improve the overall performance of your vehicle. Here are four top tire tips to keep your vehicle safe.
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Perform Routine Air Pressure Checks
One of the best things you can do to make sure your tires are safe is to perform a routine air pressure check at least once a month. Your owner’s manual lists how much air pressure your tires need to properly function. Experts suggest you keep a tire gauge at home because the one at your local gas station is probably inaccurate from overuse.
You want as accurate a reading as possible because under-inflation can affect how much distance you need when applying your brakes. It can also cause your car’s steering and handling to become less responsive. Over-inflation is also dangerous because it causes the tire tread to wear away faster, which is hazardous on wet roads. Be sure to check your spare tire because you want it to be in good shape if you have to use it.
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Establish a Rotation Schedule
While you’re checking your owner’s manual to see how much air pressure your tires should have, go ahead and read up on how often you should get the wheels aligned. Routine alignment can extend the life of your tires, which can save you money in the long run. It also helps improve your vehicle’s handling.
If you notice that your car is harder to handle or seems to be veering to the left or right, you don’t want to wait for the alignment interval suggested by the manufacturer. You should also bring your car in for a wheel alignment if you’ve hit any potholes, curbs, or other large objects.
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Perform Routine Tire Rotation
You should also have your vehicle’s tires rotated on a routine basis. While most manufacturers suggest you get your tires rotated every 6,000 miles, you may need to get them rotated sooner than that, depending on the conditions of the roads you drive on. Poorly maintained roads can cause additional wear and tear, so make a habit of checking the tread on your tires, perhaps when you check the air pressure.
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Develop Better Driving Habits
Developing better driving habits is good for you and your vehicle. Hard braking and hard acceleration can wear away tire tread and damage your car’s brake pads. Driving at unsafe speeds won’t just earn you a costly speeding ticket; it will also cause your tires to overheat. Overheating is also caused by taking turns too fast, which puts you at risk of hitting the curb. Overheating and hitting objects can cause your tires to develop weak spots that can often lead to dangerous blowouts.
These are just some of the things you can do to maintain your tires and make your vehicle safer to drive. By taking good care of your tires, you’ll improve your car’s performance and be able to enjoy it for years to come. If you’re unsure or think your car needs new tires, bring it down to Jim Turner Chevrolet for any car repair’s in McGregor, TX.
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