Tire Care and Tire Maintenance

 Tire Maintenance

Here are some good tire care and maintenance tips to extend the life and mileage of your tires, and get the best value and safety from your set of tires.

Check tires once each month for wear:

It’s a good idea to check your tires once a month for visible damage and excess wear. Here are two ways to tell if your tires are worn out:

1. Look for wear bars
Narrow bands may appear in the grooves across the tire’s tread. See the wear bars? When the wear bars are even with the tread depth, only 2/32” of tread remains,1 replace the tire.

2. The penny trick
Place a penny in the most shallow tread groove with Lincoln’s head down. See the top of his head? The tire should be replaced.

If the tread is worn below 2/32 of an inch, water can’t be channeled away from the tread. This can cause hydroplaning at high speeds. Snow traction is also reduced as well.
 

Air Pressure
The Benefits of Proper Inflation
With the right amount of air pressure, you will achieve optimum tire performance. This means your tires wear longer, save fuel and help prevent accidents. The "right amount" of air is the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer, which may be different on the front than the rear tires on your particular model car or light truck. The correct air pressure is shown on the tire placard (or sticker) attached to the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove box door or fuel door. If your vehicle doesn't have a placard, check the owner's manual. Please feel free to stop by Quick Lube, and we would be happy to check your tire pressure for you-free of charge.

 
Tire Rotation Tips 
Regular rotation helps extend the life of your tires, saving time and money in the long run. For rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from your vehicle and moved to a different position. This ensures that all of the tires wear evenly and last longer. If no period is specified in your vehicle owners manual, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. If you have a full-size spare, it should be included in the rotation process.
  
 
 

Tire Balancing Tips
Balancing compensates for the weight of the tire and wheel assembly after the tire is mounted. A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. This can cause eccentric treadwear and
vibration, plus increase the stress on the front-end parts, causing them to wear prematurely .

Wheel Alignment
A vehicle is said to be properly aligned when all suspension and steering components are sound and when the tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. Proper alignment is necessary for even tread wear and precise steering. Uneven front-or rear-tire wear, or changes in your vehicle's handling or steering response (i.e. pulling to one side) can indicate misalignment. 

Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspensions that can be adjusted for alignment. Your vehicle may need a "front-end" alignment or a "four-wheel" alignment, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing. The moderate cost of or a having your vehicle aligned can more than pay for itself in tire mileage, performance and comfort.

Proper Repair  There is a good chance that your tire can be repaired if:
1. The tire has not been driven on when flat
2. The damage is only on the tread section of your tire
3. The puncture is less than 1/4". 

Come in to any of our 5 Salt Lake Valley tire stores: Salt Lake City (Cottonwood Heights), West Valley City, West Jordan, Sandy or Draper for tires, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.
We have oil change specials and oil change coupons for full service lube and oil changes. We also offer tires, wheels, alignments, brakes, and complete auto repair services.