Tire Care Tips & Tire Maintenance | Beaver Toyota of Cumming

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:

Turn the penny so Lincoln’s head is upside down.
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.

Q: How do I change a flat tire?

If you get a flat tire, you may be covered under the generous Toyota warranty program, but if you aren’t covered, then you’ll need to know how to change a flat tire. Here’s what you need to do:

First make sure you find a safe spot off of the road that doesn’t put you at risk. Put your hazard lights on, and make sure the parking brake is activated.
Get out of the car, and apply the wheel wedges, remove the hubcap, and loosen the lug nuts.
Place the jack under the car, and raise the vehicle.
At this point, you’ll need to unscrew the lug nuts so you can remove the flat tire.
From here, mount the spare tire and tighten the lug nuts.
Lower the vehicle partially and re-tighten the lug nuts before lowering the vehicle all the way.
Replace the hubcap, put all your equipment away, and double check that the spare tire’s pressure is correct.

Afterward, you’ll want to get your vehicle to a maintenance shop to get a new tire put on as soon as possible. Important: Spare tires are only intended to be a temporary fix, and they’re not to be used when driving at high speeds!

How To Make Your Tires Last Longer

Drivers who care about efficiency, safety, and affordability have at least one common question on their minds: “How do you make your tires last longer?” With Beaver Toyota of Cumming, you can take the guesswork out of proper tire care. We’ve put together a few helpful tips on how to give your tires a longer life, so you can get more out of every drive.

If you’re in need of new long-life tires, you can find exactly what you’re looking for at our Cumming tire center. Want to learn how to perform important tire care and maintenance tasks at home? Check out our tire care FAQs.

Maximizing Tire Life

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.

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Get Your Vehicle Serviced in Buford Today

While many of the procedures mentioned above can be handled by DIY enthusiasts with a bit of automotive know-how and ambition, most drivers will want to rely on experts who have the certifications, equipment, and expertise to ensure that job is done right. Schedule your next tire service for your vehicle here at Beaver Toyota of Cumming! While you’re at it, make sure you check out our current service specials in order to take advantage of any deals we’re currently running around Alpharetta and Johns Creek. Our dealership is located in Cumming, GA, so stop on in or contact us today. Give us call with any service-related questions or for helpful service tips like how to reset the maintenance light on a Toyota Camry.