Out of all the parts of your used car, tires are exposed to most wear and tear since they are a point of contact between your car and the road. It is dangerous to drive with worn out and non-roadworthy tires as they can undermine your safety. Moreover, tire maintenance will also help you extend the life of your vehicle and increase its resale value in case you want to sell your car! Thankfully, tire maintenance isn’t tricky and you just have to be mindful of a few things. Here is what you can do:
Be Aware Of The Inflation Level
It is very important to make sure that your tires are properly inflated as under or over-inflation can cause issues with acceleration, braking, and steering. Inflation is one of the biggest influences on tire life as they are created to operate at a specific level. You can refer to your manual to find out what your tire pressure should be.
Do Not Drive At Reckless Speeds
Speeding cannot only be hazardous for you, it can also be bad for your tires as high speed generates more heat, which causes tires to wear faster. It is a good idea to not go above 75 mph and staying within limits will help decrease the total treads mileage by 20 percent.
Make Sure Your Car Is Well-Aligned
It is crucial that your wheels and axles are properly aligned. This will protect your tires from premature wear and tear and also help you save fuel. Moreover, it is also not safe to drive a car which is poorly aligned.
Mount Tires Correctly
It is also important to make sure your tires are mounted correctly and you avoid common tire mounting mistakes. The easiest way is to mount with the help of a machine and it is usually used at dealerships and tire shops. However, if you mount tires with your hands, you need to be very careful as the task requires precision.
Replace Wheels On Time
It is also important to keep a check on wheels and suspension components and replace the tires when needed. For instance, if the wheel bearing is not properly torqued, it will cause wear and tear. Similarly, worn shock absorbers will negatively impact treads.
Rotate Tires
To improve performance and extend the life of your tires, it is important that you rotate them regularly. As a general guideline, you should rotate your tires once every 6 months or every 10,000 to 12,000 km.
Make sure to follow these tips if you want to extend the life of your tires and ensure a smooth drive. If your car is well maintained, it will be much easier to sell your car when you decide to buy a new one.
Looking for a new or used car or sell your car? Log on to CarSwitch.com, select a car, and leave the rest to us.
