30 Jan 7 Tire Care Tips For Motorists In Jacksonville, FL
Have you seen the price of new tires lately? When I need to raid my cuss-word jar to finance new tires for my ride, you know things are getting out of hand. To save yourself some pennies (and even your hard-earned dollars), follow these helpful tips to get more life from your vehicle’s tires. I have listed seven tire care tips, including valuable information on air pressure and tread wear and some warning signs about wheel alignment and rotation.
Practice Routine Tire Care Maintenance
Nothing will extend the life of your tires more than practicing routine tire maintenance. What is tire maintenance? Think of it as preventative care. Don’t wait until something goes wrong with your car or your drive comfort. Schedule maintenance services according to the factory recommendations in your owner’s manual. Let’s review what those services are:
1. Air Pressure
Maintaining correct air pressure in your tires is the most essential tire care tip I recommend. Tires with the proper air pressure provide better gas mileage, longer tire life, and improved vehicle handling. Properly inflated tires also help reduce the risk of tire-related accidents. It’s super easy to check the air pressure yourself with a digital gauge. Just be sure to fill your tires to the factory-recommended PSI noted on your driver’s side door sticker and NOT the number on the tire’s sidewall.
2. Balancing
When accelerating or decelerating on smooth roads, vibrations in the steering wheel or seat may indicate that your tires require rebalancing. Other signs of unbalanced wheels are:
- steering issues
- uneven tire tread wear
- reduced fuel economy
To help prevent wheel imbalance, schedule a tire balancing inspection every 5,000-15,000 miles (or with every oil change). The inspection will determine if your vehicle requires a balancing service.
3. Rotation
Most auto manufacturers recommend scheduling a tire rotation service every 5,000-7,500 miles or every six months. Read your owner’s manual for details on your vehicle’s make and model. Remember that your driving style, road conditions, and environmental factors may require more frequent service. If you notice irregular or uneven tire tread wear developing, schedule a rotation inspection right away.
4. Spare Tire Care
Don’t forget to service your spare tire. Remember to check the air pressure and monitor its expiration date. If your vehicle has a full-size spare, don’t leave it unused in your trunk. Add it into your routine tire rotation service to extend the lifespan of all your tires.
5. Tire Age
Every tire starts to age from the day it was manufactured. With proper care, tires maintain their safety and integrity for about six to eight years from the manufacture date. You can find the creation date stamped in the code on the tire’s sidewall. There’s a wealth of other information there, too. You can find the tire’s manufacturer location, date, maximum PSI, tire size, and speed rating. Tire age accumulates whether the tire is on the shelf unused, in your trunk (or mounted to the frame) as a spare, or used daily on your vehicle.
Do Tires Expire?
As far as safety concerns go, yes, tires come with an expiration date. It’s a fact that rubber tires deteriorate over time. Most experts encourage drivers to replace their tires every six years. Using tires after that six-year mark dramatically increases the chance of experiencing tire-related accidents, especially in places with long or high-temperature summers.
6. Uneven Tread Wear
Tire treads grip the road unilaterally across the entire surface of the tire. Maintaining proper air pressure, wheel alignment, and balancing ensures the tire tread wears evenly. Plus, you will get the full life expectancy out of your tires. Preventing uneven tread wear requires routine tire maintenance. Uneven tread wear includes:
- Bald Tires – Smooth tires without a defined tread pattern are considered bald, dangerous, and require immediate replacement.
- Center Tread Wear – Often from overinflated tires.
- Cupping – Scalloped or diagonal wear across the tire tread often results from unresolved suspension issues.
- Edge Wear – Often caused by inadequate air pressure.
- Low Tread – A well-used tire may display low tread, meaning the tread depth is insufficient for vehicle safety.
- Patchy Wear – Scattered patches of worn tread often cause a bouncy ride. Look for worn suspension parts, missed tire rotation service, or wheel balancing issues.
- Toe or Camber Wear – Wear on one side of the tire is called toe or camber wear. Inner or outer tread wear often results from an alignment issue.
7. Wheel Alignment
Uneven tread wear on the inside or outside of your tire often results from a wheel alignment issue. Misalignment may also result in a pronounced pulling or drifting to one side. This phenomenon may increase when traveling at higher speeds.
Tire Care Service in Jacksonville, FL
When looking for honest and reliable auto services in Jacksonville, FL, visit JJ’s Auto Care. Our team of mechanics will help you with all your tire care needs! We cover you, from simple tasks like inspecting air pressure and tread wear to more involved services like wheel alignment and tire rotation.
Schedule Tire Care Appointment
Call us at 904-721-6646, visit our website, or come in person to schedule your next tire service appointment.
JJ’s Auto Care
11630 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32246
