Where the Rubber Meets the Road: 8 Tire Care Tips

Your tires are your first defense on the road. They protect you from snow, ice, debris, sharp turns, potholes, and just about anything else you might come across. At McCluskey Chevy, we know how important good tire care is, and want to make sure you have the knowledge you need to stay safe on the road. At our tire shop, you’ll find everything you need from expert advice on tire types, friendly and convenient tire service professionals, and discounts that will help you keep more of your hard-earned dough. We don’t want you to spend your money unnecessarily and know that a good tire maintenance routine will help you get more miles out of your tires. That’s why we’ve developed this list of 8 tire care tips that will keep your tires rolling for as long as possible!

 1. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

This is probably one of the tire care habits that you already have, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Keeping your tires properly inflated ensures that the right amount of tire is touching the road at any one time and helps maintain your tires’ durability. You might be tempted to over-inflate your tires to save yourself some time before their next fill-up, but we strongly encourage against that! Over-inflating your tires puts undue pressure on them and can increase the chance for bursts. Uneven inflation levels on your tires can also cause them to wear out at different rates, meaning you’ll be driving lopsided on the road and could even damage your vehicle. To maintain proper tire inflation, check your tires at least once a month to make sure that they are properly inflated. Only check them with an accurate tire pressure gauge when they are cool because you could get an inaccurate reading if they’re warm from driving. If a tire is rapidly deflating, it might be time for some new tires.

2. Check Your Tires for Damage

We all know that feeling when we hit an unexpected pothole really hard. Our heart stops for a second and we clutch the steering wheel, we might even apologize silently to our poor car. If this happens to you, make sure that you’re giving your tires a quick inspection once a month to check for damages. Damages can also result from less obvious issues. Check for cracks, penetration, bulges and air loss. Balding tires can also be considered a type of damage and should be immediately rectified. If you have questions about damage to your tires, head over to a tire shop like the one at McCluskey Chevy and you’ll be sure to get an answer quickly and set back on track.

3. Don’t Spin Your Tires Unnecessarily

Have you ever gotten your car stuck in a snowbank or in a ditch on the side of a road? You were probably tempted to put the pedal to the metal and try to force your car out of the precarious spot. This can mean lots of unnecessary tire spinning. If you’re good and truly stuck, don’t spin your tires endlessly in a vain attempt to get out. Excessive tire spinning can result in sudden tire explosions and prematurely worn-out treads. Instead of putting your car into high gear and spinning your tires, try rocking the car backward and forward gently to free it from wherever its stuck.

4. Never Mount Your Own Tires

Mounting tires is a task that should only be undertaken by a trained professional at your local tire shop. If you try to do it alone at home you could end up seriously injured if you do it wrong. A professional will know to check that the tire being mounted is the proper one and that it matches the others. They’ll also have the proper equipment needed to do the job right. Even if you were to successfully mount your own tire, you couldn’t be certain that the job would last long enough and you might find yourself on the side of the road waiting for a tow. In other words, leave the job of mounting tires to the trained professionals at your tire shop and save yourself a headache.

5. Never Mix and Match

When it comes time to replace your tires, it is essential that you never mix and match tires. Even if you’re replacing a blown-out tire with the spare that came with your car, you still need to replace it. A spare tire isn’t meant to be driven around, it’s only intended to help you get to the nearest tire shop where they will be able to replace it for you without you needing to call for a tow. A vehicle can be significantly affected if you choose the wrong tire. A professional will make sure that the tire has proper clearance, size, and load capacity. Be careful even when replacing one tire with one of the exact same type, as you may have worn out your other tires to the point that the end result is lopsided. You may be best served by opting for a full set of discount tires in this scenario.

6. Make Sure Your Tires are In-Season

If you have tires meant only for a certain season, remember that that isn’t a guideline to follow, it’s a rule. Driving with the wrong season of tires on is both dangerous and costly, as tires wear down much faster when being driven in the wrong temperatures. Summer tires will turn as hard as hockey pucks during the winter, while winter tires will start losing their grip as the weather heats up. If you don’t want to be bothered with swapping out your tires with the changes in the seasons, consider getting some all-season tires from your local tire shop.

7. Don’t Overload Your Vehicle

Just because you think you can fit everything but the kitchen sink (and maybe even that too) inside your car or truck doesn’t mean that you should. Overloading your vehicle can lead to poor handling, increased fuel usage, and tire failure. You don’t want a blown-out tire just because you were convinced your sedan could haul all that wood from the lumberyard. Overloading your car places stress on your tires as well as other critical parts of your car. If you’re getting new tires from a tire shop, ask about the tires’ capacity load and determine if they have enough strength to let you haul everything you need to haul.

8. Get Your Wheels Serviced by a Professional

A professional tire shop will be able to do the more complicated maintenance your tires need. Check out the recommended rotation schedule on your tires suggested by the manufacturer and schedule some time to bring your car into your tire shop. They will be able to rotate your tires to make sure that they are wearing out evenly if your car’s weight distribution is uneven. Uneven weight distribution can be caused by little more than having only a single passenger (you) in the car at any one time. A tire shop will also be able to inspect and fix your vehicle’s suspension, wheel balance, and alignment to ensure everything is working properly.

Check Out Our Tire Shop for Great Discount Tires

If it’s come time to replace or upgrade your tires, we at McCluskey Chevy have you covered. Our selection of discount tires are all high-quality and will keep you and your family safe on the road. Not only that, but our discount tires will save you money and give you peace of mind knowing that you bought your tires at a great price from a reputable tire shop. When you need some new tires, come on down and we’ll be happy to help you find the tires to fit your exact needs!