Your vehicle’s tires and wheels are unsung heroes. You obviously can’t get anywhere without the tires or wheels, but many people forget about them until they give them trouble. Common tire and wheel problems include low air pressure in the tires, flat tires, unbalanced wheels, and misaligned wheels. Make taking care of your tires and wheels a priority and you will get many more miles out of the tires. Louisville Automotive Shop list ways you can do this below.
Tire Inspection
Inspect your tires regularly to make sure that everything looks okay. In good light, check the tire tread to see whether it is wearing down unevenly. If it is, you have a tire or wheel problem. It’s also important to check the air pressure at least every other week. This makes sure that you always have the proper amount of air in the tires. If the tires are low, only inflate them to the recommended psi. Overinflating them can cause damage.
Tire Rotation
Another way to ensure that your tire tread wears down evenly is to have your tires rotated every 6,000 miles. A good way to remember this is to have the service done at every other oil change. Rotating the tires helps prevent uneven tire tread wear from the wheels and the brakes. This is a service that is simple to do, doesn’t take too much time, and helps you get the most life that you can out of your tires.
Wheel Balance
Your wheels should also be balanced when they are rotated. The most common sign that your wheels are not balanced is that your car will vibrate as you pick up speed. The faster you go, the more it will vibrate. Unbalanced wheels wear the tire tread down unevenly and make it difficult to control your automobile. Balancing the wheels makes sure that the weight is distributed evenly across your vehicle’s axles.
Wheel Alignment
Finally, wheels should be aligned with every new set of tires you have installed on your automobile and every one or two years after that. If your vehicle pulls to one side when you are driving straight, your wheels are not aligned properly. If your steering wheel logo is not centered when you’re driving straight, this is another sign that your wheels need to be realigned. Aligned wheels meet the pavement evenly, and this helps prevent uneven tire tread wear.
Louisville Automotive Shop in Louisville, KY, can take care of all of your vehicle’s tire and wheel needs. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
