|
Tire Maintenance
 Proper
tire maintenance is a relatively simple task, and it can save
you both money and headaches. You don't need to be a mechanic
to know what to check. Just spend a few minutes each month inspecting
these often overlooked components.
Inflation
The single greatest cause of tire damage is
improper inflation. Your tires lose pressure over time, resulting
in unnecessary stress on them, early and irregular treadwear and
poor gas mileage. Tires can't deliver their best performance without
the right air pressure. So what can you do? Get to know your tires.
Look at them regularly when getting into and out of your car.
You'll get used to how they should look, and that will make it
easier to spot problems. Listen to them: When you turn a corner
at normal speeds, do you hear a squealing sound from your tires?
If so, one or more tires may be low on air. Also, pay attention
to how your car feels when you move the steering wheel. Changes
may be due to tire problems that need attention.
When you check air pressure, refer to your owner's
manual for the proper inflation. The automaker has taken into
account several important factors in order to determine the right
inflation level for your car and tire combination. Try never to
let your air pressure drop below the recommended level. Although
the sidewall of your tire indicates a maximum pressure figure,
this number does not indicate the proper inflation for your car.
Rather, it indicates a top pressure that you must not exceed for
any reason. Check either the placard on your door jamb or inside
your glove box or refer to your owner's manual for the correct
air pressure for your tires.
Be Prepared
When you maintain your tires or replace them,
don't forget about your fifth tire, your spare. If you need it
in a road emergency, you want to make sure it's there and it's
inflated. (Remember, your tires will lose pressure over time.)
If you don't check you spare for a year, you could be surprised
and find a flat tire. Even with new and well-maintained tire,
you could run into a road hazard and need your spare tire. Take
some time and throw a few items in your trunk:
- small blanket
- garden or work gloves
- flashlight
Also, make sure your owner's manual is in the
glove box and that you know where your jack is and how to use
it. Your owner's manual will give you step-by-step instruction
on how to change your wheel and tire assembly. You many want to
have someone show you how to change a flat tire and practice a
bit before you have a real need.
Tread Wear and Tear
As your tire wears, its ability to grip the
road in adverse conditions decreases. If your tires are neglected,
the tread can wear completely away, leaving the surface of the
tire smooth or bald. This is not only dangerous, it's also illegal
in many states. When you're checking your tires' inflation pressure,
look for obvious signs of wear. Almost all tires have wear bars,
small raised points of rubber in the grooves that show up when
tires are worn out. If your tread is the same height as the wear
bars, it's time for a new tire. Every once in while, get your
hands dirty by feeling the tread of your tires. If you feel high
and low areas, or unusually smooth areas, you may have irregular
tread wear. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.
Here's an old reliable trick you can use to
check the tread depth of your tires. Be sure to inspect your tire
at various points. Irregular tread wear may not be readily visible
to you.
- Take a penny and pinch Abe's body between
your thumb and forefinger.
- Put his head into one of the grooves of the
tread at the point on your tire where tread is lowest.
- If any part of his head is obscured by the
tread, you're driving with the legal amount of tread. If you
can see all of his head, you're ready for a new tire.
Balance, Alignment and Rotation
When the clothes clump in one spot of your washing
machine during the spin cycle, the washer rocks wildly from the
uneven weight distribution. This is what happens if each wheel
and tire (called a wheel/tire assembly) are not properly balanced.
The result is that your tires will behave like your washing machine.
You'll get an uncomfortable ride, the steering wheel will vibrate,
and you'll damage your tires and your suspension system as your
tires bounce against the pavement. These problems can be easily
prevented by having your tire dealer balance your wheel/tire assemblies
when you buy new tires and when you have them rotated. It's a
worthwhile investment.
Each tire on your car probably supports a different
amount of weight, causing your tires to wear at different rates.
By having your tires rotated, you can extend their life expectancy.
Ideally you should have your dealer rotate your tires every 5,000
to 8,000 miles, and even more frequently if you do most of your
driving around town or if you own a front-wheel drive car. Check
your owner's manual for proper intervals.
There are several patterns you can use in rotating
your tires. For instance, crossing tires from one side to another
is a frequent rotation pattern many people use. Just be sure to
ask the dealer which pattern he used and stick with it as long
as you have those tires on your car.
Alignment is a catch-all wod describing a combination
of several different angles and relative positions of a wheel
and tire in order for a car to roll and steer easily and
predictably. Improper alignment may be felt by the car's pulling
to one side or wandering or by uneven tread wear on one or more
tires. Misalignment could also result in a major repair bill if
it's not corrected. In addition to damaged tires, your car's suspension
system can be damaged. By checking your alignment every 10,000
miles, or at least once a year, your mechanic should be able to
identify small problems before they become big ones.
|
