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With the cost of tires up nearly 25% since 2005, it’s in your best interest to ensure those tires last as long as possible. Fortunately, there are three easy ways to maximize your tire life—maintaining proper tire pressure, rotating the tires and balancing the wheels.
The first and easiest step you can take to prolong your tires is ensure they are properly inflated. Underinflated tires wear excessively on the outer treads and, in extreme conditions, may even overheat. This could cause tire damage or a blow out. Overinflated tires wear too fast in the middle because the tire is only rolling down the road on that center tread. (Maintaining proper tire pressure also improves your gas mileage.) All cars 2008 and newer are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems, which will alert you when your tire pressure drops 25% below the recommended level. If you want additional peace of mind, consider the many benefits of filling your tires with nitrogen instead of air.
The second step you can take to maximize your tire life is to rotate them. The front tires usually wear out more quickly than the rear tires. As they push through turns from Vernon Hills to Chicago, the shoulders of the front tires wear down, especially under the weight of the engine. Rotating the front tires to the rear helps ensure they all wear at about the same rate over the life of the tire. A general rule of thumb is every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, but four-wheel drive trucks and SUVs tend to wear their tires more unevenly. When your vehicle is in for service, we will inspect the tires to determine if it’s time for a rotation. And remember, tire rotations are free if you purchase a set of tires at Star Auto Authority.
Finally, you’ll also want to ensure your car’s wheels are properly balanced. When wheels are out of balance, they don’t roll down the road evenly. You’ll notice a vibration or wobble at a certain speed, such as from 25 to 35 mph or from 55 top 65 mph. Drive long enough with unbalanced wheels, and your tires will wear in a cupping pattern. To remedy this, your service technician at Star Auto Authority puts weights on your wheels to balance them out. We are one of only a few shops that use a road-force balance machine, which means we simulate the weight of the vehicle on the wheel and the road. Traditional balancing equipment spins the wheel to detect out-of-round spots that cause vibrations, but it doesn’t assess the wheel’s performance on the road.
Remember, tires are the only point of contact between you and the road. Not only will you save money by keeping yur tires properly inflated, balanced and rotated, you’ll also ensure your safety.
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