Tire Maintenance
You press your foot to your gas pedal, opening the throttle and allowing air to flow into your engine. Your car’s computer signals the fuel injectors to send fuel to meet that air, and this mixture is then sent into the pistons for combustion. Here, the fuel is converted into power and transferred to the last, but arguably most important point of contact: The tires. Think about it, a flat tire or even just bald tread can render a vehicle useless, no matter how powerful the engine. They’re as critical as the hook on a fishing line, or the magnetic strip on your debit card. If taken care of, good tires can keep you safer on the road, improve your gas mileage, and keep some money in your pocket.
Why is it Important to Take Care of Your Tires?
When properly maintained, tires last longer. Tires that are not taken care of put more strain on your engine because they require more power to roll, which decreases the life and fuel efficiency of your engine.
If you can get those under-inflated tires rolling, they build up heat much faster and have a higher chance of rupturing while driving, especially at high speeds. Nobody wants exploding tires at high speeds – It’s as bad as it sounds. Under-inflated tires also reduce the quality of handling and braking for any vehicle, and cause the tire’s tread to wear down quicker.
General Tire Maintenance
What you’ll need:
A tire pressure gauge and one penny.
Checking Tire Pressure
Checking your tire pressure is a fairly simple process. First, open up your driver door, and look for the manufacturer’s recommended PSI for your vehicle located on a sticker adhered to the door jamb. If you’re having trouble finding it there, check in your owner’s manual. Second, grab your tire pressure gauge and check the PSI of all four tires. If any are lower than the manufacturer’s recommended PSI, then you’ll need to add some air. You can do this at your local gas station.
It’s also a great idea to have your tires rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Since all four tires move differently on your car, the tread wears out in different places. Rotating them will increase their life span by allowing the tread to wear out more evenly and keep you safer. If you can’t remember the last time you’ve had this done, bring your car by Audi Raleigh tire care center, and we’ll take care of you.
Checking Tire Tread
The tread on your tires is important for improving the traction of your vehicle. Once the tread of your tire wears down, you’ll need to replace them. To check your tires, take a penny between your pointer and thumb finger with the top of Lincoln’s head facing up. Insert Lincoln head-first into your tire’s tread, and observe. If you can see all or nearly all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires. As mentioned before, if your tire tread is low, it’s affecting your car’s performance and putting you in danger.
Need Maintenance?
If your tire pressure or tread is low, don’t panic. Tires become damaged over a long period of neglect, not overnight. Still, that does not mean you should put this part off. Keeping your tires maintained is critical!
To pump your tires up, take a few quarters to your local gas station and find an air compressor. Bring your tire pressure gauge to check while you fill each tire to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI. If you tire’s tread is low, don’t put off having them replaced or rotated. Bring them into the Audi Raleigh where our tire center experts will have you back on the road in no time, riding smoother than ever.