Tire FAQs: How to Care for Your Tires

Q: How do I check my tire pressure?

Driving with underinflated tires can cause major problems for your vehicle. On the performance end, you will have a hard time turning and braking with optimal precision, and your fuel economy will decrease as well. On top of all that, underinflated tires can cause excessive friction, causing your tires to wear down more quickly than they should and making them go out much sooner than they would otherwise.

On the sidewall of your tires, you’ll find their recommended PSI (usually between 30 and 35). Stop at a gas station with an air pump, and fill up the tires to the recommended air pressure. If you’re uncomfortable doing this on your own, the Beaver Toyota of Cumming service team will take care of your tire pressure check and inflate your tires for you the next time you bring your vehicle in for an oil change or other routine service.

Q: How do I check my tire tread?

Running on bald or low-tread tires is dangerous. In addition to the fact that your vehicle isn’t as responsive as it should be in terms of steering or braking, you’re also at risk of blowing a tire, which puts not only you but those around you at serious risk.

Luckily, checking your tire tread is pretty simple. While a tread-depth gauge is the ideal method of measuring tire tread, the old-fashioned “penny test” still works well. Here’s all you do:

1. Turn the penny so Lincoln’s head is upside down.
2. With Lincoln’s head now pointing into the tire, insert the penny between two treads.

If you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head, it means your tire tread is too low, and it’s likely time to get new tires.

Q: Why is it important to rotate my tires?

Tire rotations are an essential component of tire maintenance. As you drive your vehicle, your driving habits tend to wear down the tread on certain tires more quickly than others. When you get your tires rotated, this helps ensure that the tires wear down more evenly over time, which both improves the performance of your car and helps extend the life of the tires.

Tires can be a bit pricey, so in order to get as many miles out of them as possible, it’s important to take care of them. The easiest way to do that is to get tire rotations every several thousand miles or at the very least every other time you get an oil change. Since this is a procedure that involves special equipment, you’ll probably want to schedule an appointment to have this done when the time comes.

• Check the Tire Pressure Once a Month: Tire pressure can diminish rapidly, and on average, they lose about one pound per square inch of pressure per month. Check them regularly to make sure it’s safe to drive, and exercise extra caution in extreme heat or cold.
• Rotate Your Tires Every 5,000 Miles: Since a vehicle’s weight is not distributed evenly, the tires will wear out at different rates. Regular tire rotation ensures a longer life by moving the hardest working tires to a location where they’ll get a break.
• Find the Right Wheel Balance: Having a mechanic balance your wheels after tire rotation can help to reduce the wear accrued between this visit, and the next one. A vehicle that distributes its weight more evenly will have longer lasting tires.
• Check Your Alignment Twice a Year: Misaligned wheels can cause your steering wheel to shake, and they’ll also reduce the lifespan of your tires. They may become misaligned through regular driving, but hitting a curb or a pothole will accelerate the process. A technician at our service center can realign your wheels when you rotate your tires.