Check And Maintain Tires :

Tires Checked, Maintained, Replaced for Safety

By Evander Klum

Playing a very vital role when the vehicle is running, the tires are the only part of the car that physically touches the ground. They are one of the major factors that affect the vehicle's handling and overall safety.

Periodical checking of your tires are firmly recommended to ensure overall safety not just to the driver but to the passengers as well. Replacing them whenever they are worn out without even knowing the reason of the wear is not a good deed. It is best to regularly inspect the tires to immediately know and resolve future tire problem. Few of the things that contribute to tire malfunction or failure are long intervals of high-speed driving with low tire pressure, excess vehicle weight and high temperatures. These instances consequently lead to
additional flexing and stress on the sidewalls.

The things about tires that need regular checking are the pressure, wall damages, wear, rotation, front and rear, and storage.

Most drivers wash the cars monthly, while only very few check the tire pressure. The pressure should always be inspected at least once a month and before going to a long trip. Tire should always be inflated for them to last longer. Under inflated tires used while driving diminishes the contact area between the thread and the ground. This is because the central part of the thread is pushed upwards. Consequently, the edges will wear
faster.

Among the other disadvantages brought about by under inflated tires are high fuel consumption, noise and vibrations. On the other hand, over inflated tires cause the central part of the thread to deteriorate faster. So make sure to have the correct inflation.

When inspecting the tires, include the damages on the walls. These damages are brought about by the tires' hitting on the pavement. In effect, bubbles and cuts are produced. The weather can also cause tire wall damages. Too much cold or hot weather causes cracks, so it is better to check on them during these
weathers and before going on as trip to avoid car break down on the road.

To check the tire wear, rotate the steering wheel to the extreme right or left. See if both edges worn equally. If only the inside or the outside is worn, go see a mechanic to fix the tire alignment.

When the wear bars connect across the lugs, it implies fully worn tires. You should therefore replace them.

The next thing to consider is tire rotation. On the tire wall is the tire rotation direction. It means tires are intended to rotate in that specified direction. Make sure to rotate tires accurately because opposed rotation could be risky during rains or high speed. Eight thousand (8,000) miles is the least interval of tire rotation. Some drivers do the rotation with every oil change, which is a recommended way.

Due to braking weight effect and steering while parking, tires in the front wear quicker than those in the rear. On front traction car, this happens severely. Make sure to rotate both tires so that they would have longer life and maintain better shape.

It is also a must to properly store the tires in horizontal piles because if you store them vertically, the will have a deteriorated shape - oval.

When inspecting the tires, also go over the wheels. If in case you want some refinements, change them with custom wheels.

However, there are circumstances wherein tires can be repaired and there are also some when replacement is the only solution to tire problem. As a safety measure, old tires should be replaced even if they still have enough thread left.

Your car may have multiple tire options. This makes tire replacement complicated. Consult your owner's manual and know your manufacturer's recommended tire size, speed rating, load range, and the like.

As you can see, tires should never be taken for granted or checked only when you are feeling something wrong with them. Regular tire maintenance is essential for excellent driving, handling, comfort, and most important of all, safety.

About the author:
Evander Klum is a Business Administration graduate who hails from Alabama. He enjoys extreme sports and he is also a car racing fanatic. At present, he works as a marketing manager at an advertising agency in Cleveland.