Taking Care of Your Tires

Car tires are kind of a pain. They are the most simple yet simultaneously essential parts of your vehicle and are the only thing that makes direct contact with the road. Caring for your tires may seem time-consuming and unnecessary; however, regularly inspecting your tires helps ensure a smooth, reliable, and quiet drive while also greatly improving your car’s performance. If you’re unsure how to check or maintain your tires, we at Crain Kia of Fayetteville are here to help with these Tire Care Tips! 

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Tire Pressure

Look, we get it. Keeping up with your car’s tire pressure can be time-consuming and feel pointless. However, ensuring proper tire inflation helps keep you safe by improving your braking distance, vehicle handling, and fuel economy. AAA recommends checking your vehicle’s tire pressure with a quality tire gauge just once a month. These tools are relatively cheap and are available with either a digital or analog interface. If you don’t know your vehicle’s recommended tire pressure, it will be in your driver’s side door jamb. 

How to Check Your Car’s Tire Pressure

1. Remove the caps off your tire’s valve stem.
2. Connect your gage to the end of the stem.
   1. Be sure to apply force to ensure an adequate seal. 
3. Add air with a compressor if needed.
   1. If you do not own one, gas stations should have compressors available.
   2. If there is too much pressure in your tire, you can remove air by placing the non-rounded end of your gauge on the valve stem.

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Tread Inspection

Checking your tire’s tread is another vital component to maintaining the health of your car as well as your safety. Experts recommend the “penny test.” This helps you know if you’re tires are too worn to be safe to drive. Bridgestone says that most new tires come with 10/32-inch or 11/32-inch tread depths and need replacement once they hit 2/32 inches. This test lets you know if your tires have reached their end at the 2/32 threshold. 

Penny Test: How to Check Your Tread

1. Place a penny between the raises on the tire’s tread or “rib.”
2. Position the penny to where Lincoln’s head points down
3. Check if Lincoln’s head hides between the ribs. 
   1. Your tread is still above the 2/32-inch recommendation if his head is hidden.
   2. If you can see his whole head, it’s likely time to replace your tires.

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Maintaining your vehicle’s tires is a chore but can drastically impact your drive. Checking your tire pressure every month and inspecting the tread are some of the best and simplest ways to help keep your car in tip-top shape. Stop by Crain Kia of Fayetteville in Fayetteville, AR, today!

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