As car owners, we all accept that at some point in time, we’ll have to change our tires. However, if you’re changing your tires on a regular basis, something has gone wrong. You shouldn’t have to do that, and if you are, it’s time to start learning how to make them last longer. Let’s look at a few ways to do that.
Keep Them Inflated
The single most important thing you can do to your tires is to keep them properly inflated. Over time, you tires will start to lose inflation, which will impact their performance and safety levels. You need to ensure that you fill them with air, but only to the required amounts. Each car is different, so study your manual and make sure you aren’t going over the top. Do this on a regular basis, especially if you’re clocking up the miles.
Balance Them
In many cases, when you get a new set of tires, they will be balanced for you for an additional fee. This is something you should accept, as wheel balancing will improve the longevity of your tires. It does this by ensuring your wheels rotate properly, reducing damage. You should try and get balancing done on a semi-regular basis. Visit your local service shop and utilize their wheel balancer for a small fee.
Avoid Potholes
If at all possible, you want to avoid potholes while you’re driving. The reasons for this are fairly obvious. Potholes pose a risk to your tires in all sorts of ways, especially when a big collision occurs. This can easily lead to a punctured tire if you’re unlucky. Also, potholes pose great risks to a topic we just talked about: wheel balancing. Whatever the damage; your car doesn’t usually come out unscathed.
Drive Carefully
While avoiding potholes is crucial, driving carefully is just as important. Don’t be tempted to take harsh turns and drive faster than the speed limit. As well as putting your life in danger, you’re putting your car at risk of dangers on the road. Driving a little faster than you should over a speed bump is enough to do serious damage to your tires. If you’re a careful driver, you’re much less likely to do damage.
Choose A Good Brand
Your tires will only last as long as they’re built for, no matter how careful you are with them. When you buy a set of tires, don’t be tempted to go for the cheapest option. Ideally, you want to do your research ahead of time by browsing websites for reviews. Most people try and find a balance of cost and reputability. At the end of the day, though, it all comes down to how important your tires are to you. If you’re willing to spend a little more than usual, you’ll normally benefit from more reliable tires.
Keeping your tires in good, working order is important for your safety as well! Don’t neglect basic tire maintenance, or you could find yourself in a bad situation.