Six Mistakes That Can Shorten The Lifespan Of Your Tires
Keeping your tires in the best possible condition will maximize tire lifespan and also improve tire performance. Unfortunately, a lot of motorists make simple mistakes that cause their tires to wear out more quickly than they should, resulting in the need to visit a tire store prematurely.
The following are six mistakes you need to avoid so that you can maximize the lifespan of your tires.
1. Failing to store your tires properly if you remove them for the winter
If you put snow tires on your vehicle every winter, you have to make sure that the way you're storing your tires is not inadvertently causing damage.
Tires can be damaged by UV light and by temperature fluctuations. It's therefore important to shelter tires from sunlight and place tires in a location where they won't get too hot or cold while they're in storage.
2. Using your vehicle when your tires are under-inflated
Tires need to be properly inflated to function optimally. Make sure you know what the recommended PSI value is for your tires and keep tires inflated to that value to avoid premature wear and tear.
3. Neglecting to have your tires rotated
Tire rotation ensures that all four tires wear evenly over time. If you don't rotate your tires, the tread on front tires will wear out more quickly if you have front wheel drive. If you have rear wheel drive, your rear tires will wear out more quickly.
Rotating tires will maximize the lifespan of tire tread by preventing accelerated tire wear in either the front or the back.
4. Driving your vehicle at excessively high speeds
If you drive fast, your tires are likely to wear out more quickly. Tires wear out faster at higher speeds because high speeds increase the amount of heat that is created in tires that are rotating against the roadway surfaces.
By slowing down, you can maximize your tread life and delay the need to replace your tires.
5. Never having your tires aligned
Poor alignment in vehicles will lead to tread wear that is speeded up on either the inside or outside of the tire.
Having your vehicle aligned occasionally will not only increase tire lifespan, but can also bring about significant efficiency improvements in other mechanical components in your vehicle. This will save money on gas over time and prevent other mechanical problems from developing.
6. Mismatching tires
It's not a good idea to put tires that differ slightly in terms of tread depth and diameter on the same vehicle. This will lead to uneven wear of tires. In addition, using mismatched tires on a vehicle could cause alignment issues.
