Tires are one of the most important components of your car for many reasons. They are the single connection from your car to the road–essential to you and your car’s safety! Understanding how to know what kind of tires are best for your car and how to maintain them is imperative for any car owner. So, follow these do’s and stay away from the don’ts!
When buying new tires:
DO: Shop around! Your car’s OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) has suggested tires for your car, but don’t assume those are the best fit for you! Your tire’s effectiveness is dependent on many factors. Analyze what type of weather and terrain you most commonly drive in, and let that factor into what type of tires you choose. You want them to be the best fit for your car and where you drive it! Do some research on different deals happening in your area, hence, shop around! Don’t limit yourself to your usual maintenance shop. I promise, you might just save some money this way!
DON’T: Spend too little, or too much! Find that sweet spot in the middle and you’ll find yourself some perfect new tires! If a deal seems too good to be true, that might just be the case. While buying cheap tires is a good temporary fix, you’ll pay for it in the long run. But, don’t feel like buying expensive name brand tires is the other route you have to take. Yes, you’ll probably get higher quality with higher costs, but take into consideration those tires in the middle of the spectrum. There are great, not as well known tire brands that will give you excellent product for a much lower cost–right in that sweet spot I was telling you to find!
Once you have those new tires, maintain them!
DO: Rotate them! It is recommended that tires be rotated, on average, about every six months or every 3,000 – 6,000 miles driven. Rotating your tires is an essential part of their maintenance. Making sure they all wear as evenly as possible helps prolong their life. Do you need more information on the importance of rotating your tires? Don’t worry, I have another blog post here to help you out.
DON’T: Ignore them! Tire neglect can become a huge safety hazard. If a tire alert light pops up on your dash, listen to it. How many times have you seen a blown out tire on the side of the road and become worried that the same accident could spontaneously happen to you? Here’s a good rule of thumb to remember: every time you get your oil changed, consider getting your tires rotated! If you have to ask yourself when the last time was that your tires have had maintenance, the answer is, it’s probably time.
DO: Perform routine tire checks. Don’t count on waiting for the mechanic to do this. Check your tire pressure and tread regularly–at least once a month! A simple trick you can perform during your checks is the penny test! Stick a penny head first into your tire’s tread. If you can still see Abe’s head, it’s time to start shopping for new tires!
DON’T: Forget about the spare tire! Getting a flat tire is miserable. Discovering that your spare tire is also flat, is even worse. No, you’re not having to constantly monitor the tread on your spare, but occasionally checking on it can be beneficial over time. Hopefully you never have to use it, but on the chance that you might need it, you want it to be functioning and dependable! When you check your tires pressure, go ahead and also check the spares.
Do you have more questions about your tires? Learn more here!
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