ROTATING YOUR VEHICLE’S TIRES AND MAINTAINING PROPER INFLATION – ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

Taking care of tires is definitely an important part of the maintenance routine. Unless properly cared for, many problems can occur with a car, SUV or truck that hasn’t been kept up according to manufacturer’s recommendations. For the best result, keep our tips in mind when taking your vehicle in for the next oil change and add tire SERVICE to the list of things to be done.

A Little Precaution Now, Saves a LOT of Headache Later

Most vehicles are front wheel drive, which means that the front two tires suffer a great deal of wear and tear, more so than the rear wheels. A good amount of the steering function and braking load is put on the front two tires and also, depending on what type of driving you do more often – the right or left wheels can be more susceptible to added wear and tear. (There are lots of right turns for highway driving and typically more left-hand turns for city driving).

In a nutshell, here are four reasons why rotating your tires are a must:

• Uneven wear can make your tires wear out faster.
• Steering and suspension parts endure an uneven load, causing parts to wear out more quickly.
• Driving quality is affected, as shimmying can occur while moving at certain speeds.
• To get the most wear from your tires, we recommend rotating the back tires to the front every 6,000 miles.

Save a Lot of Unnecessary “Hot Air”; Get Your Tires Inflated Properly

It’s very easy to forget to check the air pressure of your tires – but if you are one of those people who regularly do this, then chances are your vehicle’s ride and handling are at optimum levels and you’re enjoying excellent fuel efficiency. Here is a list of things that are affected by the right amount of air pressure:

Fuel efficiency – When your tires are at the wrong pressure, the rolling resistance is increased, resulting in reduced tread life and increased usage of gas. So, maintaining the proper pressure leads to better gas mileage.

Wear and Tear – Under-inflation can result in premature wear and tear. Parts of the tire that aren’t designed to contact the road, do so if the pressure is too low.

Reduced Road Contact – When there is too much air pressure in a tire, you could end up with only the center strip of your tire actually touching the road surface. With so little tire surface hugging the road, the reduced tread-to-road contact can lead to dangerous situations and potentially harmful accidents can occur, especially in the rain.

Damage to Steering and Suspension Systems

– Anytime tires are not inflated to their optimum level, the excess wear and tear causes damage to the steering and suspension systems of a vehicle as well.

So don’t forget to get your tires rotated every 6,000 miles. Also, keep your tires inflated to the tire manufacturer’s specs. And don’t forget, you can stop by any House of Mufflers & Brakes anytime and we’ll check and fill your tires for free.