The tires you put on your vehicle can be quite an investment. Finding ways to make them last longer will not only help you save money over the long run but also keep you safe on the road with high-quality tires. At some point, you will have to replace your tires. However, there are some things you can do to optimize their lifespan, which we’ll cover below.
Regularly Rotate Your Tires
Rotating your tires on a regular basis helps create an even wear pattern on the tread. Otherwise, you may end up in a scenario where the outer or inner edges of your tires are more worn down, shortening their lifespan. A good cadence is to get them rotated about every 5,000 miles, or whenever you get an oil change.
Align Your Wheels Frequently
Similarly, you’ll want to get your alignment checked every so often to ensure the angle of your wheels is correct. Even if the wheel alignment is off by a slight amount, it could result in extra wear and tear on certain parts of your tires and lead to premature damage. You probably cannot tell this by eyeballing it, so take your vehicle to a mechanic or tire shop to get this properly assessed.
Drive (and Park) Safely
It might go without saying, but driving safely is a good idea for a myriad of reasons. It can help you avoid accidents and keep your tires in good condition. Peeling out, or erratic stopping and starting can put undue stress on your tires, eating away at the tread.
You need to be careful how and where you drive. Specifically, you’ll want to avoid potholes, construction zones, and uneven or gravelly roads that could damage your tires and rims or cause misalignment.
This also applies to parking. The side walls of your tires are weaker than the tread area, so be mindful of curbs when parking on the side of the road. Grinding the side of the tires and rims against concrete curbs while parking can create some serious damage, so try to leave some space between your wheels and the curb.
Ensure Proper Air Pressure
Every month or so, check the air pressure of your tires to make sure they meet the manufacturer’s standards. This will allow for more consistent wear across all tires, and puts less stress on just one or two of them if certain tires are running low.
Each vehicle will be different, and you should be able to find the proper level for your car on a sticker inside the driver’s door or glove compartment. If you have a newer vehicle, there is likely a built-in monitoring system that will alert you when pressure is low.
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Written by Bailey Schramm in partnership with Marv Golden Pilot Supplies.
