One of the easiest ways to save money is to get the full life out of the products that you buy. If you own a car, you will likely have to purchase tires at some point. Make the most out of the rubber meeting the road by Avoiding These 5 Things That Cause Tires to Wear Out Faster.
1. Under or Overinflated Tires-You will experience faster wear, poorer fuel economy, and lesser performance when tires do not have proper pressure. If the tires are grossly over or underinflated, it can be downright dangerous.
Many newer model vehicles come equipped with tire pressure sensors that alert you when the pressure deviates outside of set ranges. Although these systems definitely are not perfect (mine goes off many time when it is cold), they can be a good early warning system for improper pressures or an impending flat tire.
2. Forgetting to Rotate Tires-Did you know that tires placed on the front and back of the vehicle wear differently? Left or right can also vary in wear patterns. Makes sense because in most vehicles the engine and a number of other parts critical for operation are located towards the front. Many cars and trucks have a heavier load on the front than the back.
Rotating tires according to manufacturers’ recommendations can help minimize uneven tire wear and the vibrations and noise that can result from that. The key is to follow the official recommendations for your particular vehicle and tire type.
3. Not Periodically Checking Your Vehicle’s Alignment-A car out of alignment can definitely contribute to excessive tire wear. Things such as pot holes, curb rub, and debris in the road may over time lead to the vehicle’s alignment getting out of whack. It is a good idea to periodically have the alignment checked. Easy to do when you take your ride in for tire rotation.
Also, it is highly recommended by many tire experts that you have your vehicle aligned any time you put on new tires. You want to start out right so that your new tires last as long as possible.
4. Not Maintaining Vehicle Overall-If you drive your car with bad shocks, wonky axles, or a jerky transmission, your tires longevity and performance are bound to be affected. For example, bad shocks mean that the tires will bounce more as you hit the peaks and dips along the road (Popular Mechanics).
5. Fast Starts and Stops-Are you (or any teenagers in your household) a fan of roaring out of the gates when the light turns green? How about coming right up to the car in front of you and then hitting the brakes hard? Along with the peeling out and screeching halts, comes disappearing tire tread. Slower and steadier take offs and stops are definitely more tire friendly.
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This is really helpful as I drive a lot for work. I do home visitation and also have a 45 minute commute in the mornings. We do maintain our vehicles, but need to make them last as long as possible. Thanks for all the great tips!
Sounds like you do drive a lot. Glad these tips help out.
Sarah thanks for sharing with us over at Turn It Up just pinned 🙂
These are great tips! Tires are expensive so I’ll take all the help I can get to make them last longer! Thanks so much for sharing these tips with us at Share The Wealth Sunday!