Caring for your Tires

We say it a lot here at Hoffman Auto – preventative maintenance is key to protecting one of your most expensive investments…your vehicle. While we take the time to care for your wheels and tires while they’re in the shop, it’s important for you, the owner to take some steps on your own to ensure the longevity of your HUGE tire investment.

Check your tire pressure

Tires are essential to our vehicles, but they’re frequently overlooked. Taking a few minutes at least once a month to check the tires could extend the life of your tires and how long you can drive on them, as well as improve gas mileage. It’s important to have proper air pressure, as under-inflation can lead to tire failure. Hoffman Auto recommends checking your tire pressure monthly and before long trips.

Inspect your tires

Inspect tires to make sure nothing is embedded in the tires that could poke a hole and cause a leak. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges, or other irregularities

Many vehicles are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System that alerts the driver if tire pressure is too low, but it may not warn you if it is too high. High tire pressure can cause tire wear in the center of your tires and poor ride comfort.

Keep your wheels clean

if you have driven on dirt roads or through mud, make sure to clean your wheels afterwards. Most of the dirt can hide on the inside of the wheel behind spokes making it hard to see. If after cleaning your wheels, you feel any consistent shaking at speed, bring your vehicle in to be checked out. You may have off-balanced wheels causing poor tire wear.

Stay current on tire rotations and wheel alignments

Tire wear differs from front to back of your vehicle, therefore tires should be “rotated” seasonally. Hoffman Auto recommends rotations every 5,000-6,000 miles depending on your service intervals. If you leave a tire in the same position for too long, it may cause too much tire wear and will need to be replaced prematurely.

Improperly aligned vehicles can eat tires for dinner. When wheels are not properly aligned, tires can go from new to destroyed in less than 5,000 miles. Hoffman Auto recommends getting a vehicle wheel alignment at least once a year. TIP – schedule it as the same time you have your wheels off for another service.

Store your tires properly

Heat and Exposure are the main influences of a tire’s aging process. These steps will help slow the process compared with taking no precautions at all.

• Keep tires out of direct sunlight. Store in a cool, dry, climate-controlled location
• Clean each tire with soap and water to remove brake dust, dirt and grime. Clean wheels if still mounted to tires. Make sure tires and wheels are completely dry before storing.
• Store each clean & dry tire in its own large, opaque, airtight plastic bag. Close bag tightly and tape shut.
• Store tires flat and not standing up, and never stack more than 4 tires on top of each other

Remember…tires are a big vehicle investment and taking a few minutes each month to make sure they are operating properly can save hundred of dollars down the road and keep your tires in good working condition. Vehicle alignments, brake cleanings, and tire rotations will all help in extending the longevity of your tire investment.