Tire Maintenance and Usage

Tires are built and designed with utmost care to provide thousands if miles of service. But they must be maintained properly for your maximum usage.

The following are the most important factors in tire maintenance:

• Good driving habits
• Proper vehicle loading
• Regular inspection
• Proper inflation pressure

Good driving habit
Your driving ability has a great deal to do with your tire safety and mileage. So practice good driving habits for your own safety and tire maintenance.

• Avoid fast starts, sudden stops and turns
• Observe posted speed limits
• Don't run over curbs or scuff the sidewall of a tire againts curb when parking
• Avoid potholes or objects on the road

Avoid tire spinning
A rapidly spinning tire can cause an explosion by literally tearing the tire apart. And it can be on such magnitude that it can break beads as to rapture the entire car. The vehicles should be rocked gently with the least amount of spinning when it struck on snow, rock, mud or wet grass. If the car doesn't budge, get a tow service. After the tire has been severely impacted, you must have it remove from the wheel and inspect for damage.

Proper vehicle loading
You must not overload a vehicle. Baggage carried on top of a vehicle counts as an additional load. If towing a trailer, bear in mind that some of the weight are transferred to the towing vehicle. The only sure way to avoid overloading is to weight, axle by axle, the loaded vehicle into a reliable platform scales.

Regular tire inspection
Inspect your tires closely for any signs of uneven wear at least once a month. Uneven tire patterns if not corrected will cause further tire damage. Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to one sixteenth of an inch and wear bar appear on the tire when that point of wear is reached it's time to replace the tire.

Inflation pressure on tires
Make sure your tire has the right amount of pressure so your tires wear longer, save on fuel and help avoid accidents. The "right amount" of air is the pressure specified by the automaker for the tires on your car.

The proper maintenance of your car tire help prevent accidents and injuries. Most manufacturers now mold side warnings in sidewalls of tire. Only specially trained person should mount or demount tires. Improper or careless mounting procedures of tire can result to explosion of tire and wheel assembly.

Motorists are strongly advised to follow the vehicle owner's manual or the tire placard in the vehicle for proper inflation and loading. Serious injury may result form tire failure due to under inflation or overloading. Tires must be properly inflated and it should be measured accurately. Purchase your own tire gauge form your tire dealer. Make sure it is calibrated up to 80 PSI.

Important tips:
When there is a change in outdoor temperature, the tire's inflation pressure is affected. So check tire inflation pressure regularly to avoid tire failure while on a trip. Never "bleed" or reduce air pressure when tires are hot. It is normal for pressures to build up as a result of driving.

Improper caring for your tire can lead to tire failure which can result in vehicle damage or serious injury or even death. Proper caring of tire extends tire life and saves fuel and it even save lives.