If you just got new tires put on your vehicle, you likely will want to be extra attentive to them in terms of performing routine maintenance. After all, you will want those tires to last as long as possible. Here are a few tips for maintaining the tires on your vehicle. Make sure you do the following things when it comes to your tires.
Check The Tire Pressure
Even brand-new tires are going to naturally lose some air pressure from normal driving. You'll want to regularly check your air pressure to make sure that they are filled to the proper level. The tires should have the air pressure information imprinted on the sidewall of the tire so you do not have to track down your owner's manual to find out how much air should be inside them.
Rotate The Tires
Rotating your tires is essential if you want them to last a long time. Doing so is going to help the tread wear evenly across all your tires since the front tires see a different kind of wear than the rear tires. This will help all of the tires wear down evenly so you won't need to replace the front tires before the back tires need replacement. The goal is to give you some additional miles and avoid preemptive tire replacement.
Check with your tire manufacturer for how often they recommend that the tires be rotated, but it is likely between 6,000 and 8,000 miles. Some people prefer to have their tires rotated at the same time that they have their oil changed since the vehicle will already be in the auto shop and on the hoist to get this job done.
Inspect The Tires Visually
Did you hit a big pothole, run over a curb, or do something that you felt caused damage to your tire? It is worth performing a visual inspection for damage so that you know you are not driving on a tire that needs repair. You want to look out for bulges in the tire that were not there before, especially in the sidewall of the tire. Check for rips in the rubber or debris that punctured the tread of the tire.
Measure The Tire Tread
Want to know if your tires are ready to be replaced again? Check the tread by using a penny. If you stick the penny headfirst into the tire's tread and see space above President Lincoln's head, it means the tire is in need of replacement due to a lack of tread.
To learn more, contact a resource like King George Truck & Tire Center.