Taking care of your tires is a simple way to get the most lileage out of them, as well as ensuring reliability and avoiding unnecessary problems down the road. Get a quality tire gauge and get in the habit of checking your tire pressure each time you fill up your gas tank.
At a minimum, check your tire pressure at least once a week. We'll be glad to show you how easy this really is!
Under or over-inflation of your tires can cause the following problems:
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Cause uneven tire wear
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Reduce your gas mileage
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Actually weaken your tires due to excessive heat
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Reduce traction on the road
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Reduce the mileage life of your tires
Under-inflated tires means they are "soft" and cause the outside edges to wear prematurely, as well as increases resistance to move the vehicle, which impacts gas mileage and handling. Over-inflated tires means they are "hard" and cause the weight of the vehicle to be concentrated on the center of the tire, which will also cause premature wear. These conditions could eventually cause a flat or blowout.
Have your tires rotated and balanced on a regular basis since each tire can wear differently based upon their position on your vehicle, vehicle type, and driving conditions.
Check the tread on your tires regularly. Got a penny? Let Abe Lincoln help you check your tires! Insert a penny head first in between the tread. If you can see all of Abe's head, it's probably time to have those tires replaced!