Answering Your Top Tire FAQs

January 8th, 2021 by

A high angle shows a mechanic checking the tire pressure on a car's tire in a Cincinnati tire shop.

When it comes to vehicle tire service and maintenance, we get a lot of questions. We get it – there’s a lot of conflicting information on the internet, not to mention what your friends and family tell you. We also understand you don’t want to spend unnecessary time and money at the tire shop. As a top Cincinnati tire shop, McCluskey Chevrolet knows exactly what your tires need and when they need it.

Are you wondering if you should get an alignment when you replace your tires? Yes, it’s highly recommended you get your wheels aligned when they are replaced. We want to answer some of your most frequently asked questions regarding tire maintenance and service. Our goal is that you will feel more informed and confident to make the right decisions for your vehicle and extend the life of its tires.

Should I Get an Alignment When I Replace My Tires?

We gave you the general answer above, but we feel passionate about this, so it’s worth diving in. Again, we highly recommend getting a wheel alignment when you replace tires. Proper wheel alignment extends the life of your tires. This means less money out of your wallet! When you have your wheels aligned, you’re making sure each tire will wear evenly with the road. So what happens if you don’t get an alignment with tire replacement? You guessed it, the tires will wear unevenly, and it can affect how the car rides, plus lead to needing new tires sooner than normal. It’s a necessary maintenance that will help keep your tires running in top shape.

Wheel alignment isn’t something you’ll need very often, though. It’s a good idea to have your alignment checked once a year and also if you notice your car pulling from side to side or you’ve driven an excessively bumpy road. Getting proper wheel alignment will save you money in the long run! You’re already investing in four beautiful new tires, so make sure you’re doing everything possible to ensure those tires grip the road properly and last for many miles to come.

A white car on a lift is getting an alignment.

How Often Do I Need a Tire Rotation?

A question we receive a lot in the tire shop comes in two parts. First, do I need to get my tires rotated? Second, how often? With car maintenance and service, it can be hard paying for a service that you don’t really notice, but trust us that a tire rotation is absolutely necessary. Just like a wheel alignment, consistent tire rotations extend the life of your tires. Ignoring rotating your tires will honestly cost you more money as you will need new tires more frequently.

The answer to the main question, how often do I need a tire rotation, is about every 7,500 miles. It’s important to check your owner’s manual and talk with our certified specialists to ensure this is the right time frame for your vehicle and tires. To keep things simple, it is usually best to rotate your tires whenever you come in for your regular oil changes. Be sure to check our website for any available service offers on tire rotations.

The purpose of tire rotation is simple. We noted that it could extend the life of your tires, but how? Each of your tires wears differently because of the specific role it plays in operating and moving your car. The front wheels will wear differently than the rear wheels because of steering. Also, car tires with front-wheel drive carry out different tasks than a vehicle’s tires with rear-wheel drive. This all affects the wear on the tires, and rotating your tires will help ensure even wear across each tire.

Now, what exactly do our certified specialists do when we rotate your tires? We do more than just rotate your tires. We check your tire pressure, set the tire psi, and inspect each tire’s conditions. It’s a great time to talk with our team about how your tires look and if it’s time to start considering new tires. This is when we typically get asked the next frequently asked question below!

When Do I Need New Tires?

A mechanic is changing tires on a car on a lift.

This is definitely one of our more popular questions! We understand completely. To the untrained eye, it can be hard to distinguish a tire needing replacement from a tire in good condition. Generally speaking, it’s time to replace your tires when you have 2/32 of an inch or less of tread remaining. However, that is the absolute minimum, and it’s a good idea to start considering new tires before your current tires get down to 4/32 of an inch. Our team will give you a heads up when you should start thinking about it or will let you know if tire replacement is necessary as soon as possible.

There are other signs to look for that it’s time to replace your tires. Whenever you see a bulge, split, a cracked tread, or more than three tread wear indicators around the tire, it’s time to replace your tires immediately. Don’t wait until you’re in a potentially dangerous situation where your tire fails completely. The same inspection should be done with the spare tire because you don’t want to discover your spare tire is damaged when you are stuck on the side of the road!

Once you decide it’s time for new tires, you’ll need to decide which types of tires you want and need. You don’t have to walk through this process alone because we know there are many types of tires out there. There are tires specific to performance, terrain, seasons, and different vehicles. Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, we pride ourselves on being tire experts, and we are always happy to help you decide which tires are right for your vehicle.

Regular tire replacement is necessary for all cars. Every tire wears down eventually, some more frequently due to weather, road conditions, and how well you maintain them. Our promise is to set you up for success with affordable and high-quality tires that are designed for your vehicle.

How Much Do New Tires & Alignment Cost?

Ending our frequently asked tire questions with one that’s hard to give a specific answer. Ultimately, tire cost varies based on the type of tire, vehicle, and how many you’re replacing. We have a tool on our website called the Tire Finder where you can plug in your vehicle’s year, make, model, trim, and tire size to find a list of compatible tires and the available price. This gives you a good start for your research, but our tire specialists are always available to give you the most accurate information available.

McCluskey Chevrolet isn’t just an average tire shop in Cincinnati – we’re experts in our field and passionate about providing a high-quality product and service. We also provide service to more than just Chevrolet vehicles. Any make and model is welcome in our Cincinnati tire shop. We see a lot of drivers come through our doors, which allowed us to compile this list of frequently asked questions. We hope you see even more why wheel alignment, tire rotation, tire maintenance, and tire replacement are so important in the life of your car. You treasure your vehicle, so let’s keep you on the road longer and safer. Call us or visit our website today to schedule your next service appointment with us. We look forward to serving you!