Avoid Tire Trouble With 4 Maintenance Tips

What’s the only part of your car that makes contact with the road?
Tires.

No matter how well you take care of them, they’ll eventually need to be replaced. A new set can be costly, so you’ll want to make the ones you have last as long as possible. Here’s what you need to know about taking proper tire maintenance.

1.Rotation

Your tires should be rotated about every 5,000-7,000 miles or at every second oil change. This ensures that the tread wears evenly and last a long time. Each vehicle’s owner manual will supply a suggested pattern for the rotation.

For example, it may suggest simply moving the front tires to the back and vice versa, or it may instruct you to exchange them diagonally.

2.Check tire pressure

It’s not a bad idea to check your tire pressure every time you fill up your vehicle with gas. Keep in mind that your tires will naturally lose 1-2 psi each month. As the weather gets colder, this can happen more quickly. Incorrectly inflated tires are dangerous. If the pressure is too low, your tires won’t be able to grip the road when it’s wet and rainy.

3.Visual inspection

It’s also important to give your tires a visual inspection on a regular basis. You definitely want to check them out if you hit a curb, pothole, or any debris on the road. You’re looking for holes, worn areas, and places where there may be bulging. The tread depth is especially important.

Use the penny test to make sure your tread is adequate. If you’re not sure what that is, don’t worry, it’s simple. All you have to do is take a penny and stick it between two of your tire’s treads, with Abe’s head down. If the depth of the tread doesn’t reach Abraham Lincoln’s head, it’s time to look for new tires.

4.Go to the tire experts

There are certain actions you can perform on your own, but it’s best to let the pros regularly check things out.

At Conrad’s, here’s what you can expect when you bring your vehicle in to our experienced auto technicians.

• Tires will be rotated in the pattern suggested by your car’s owner’s manual.
• A check of the tire pressure.
• Visual inspection for damage and uneven wear.
• Torquing lug nuts/bolts to the proper specifications.

Give Conrad’s a call today or stop by one of our convenient locations.

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