Wheel and Tire Maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle in optimal condition is a priority for any responsible car-owner. By investing a little tender loving care on a regular basis throughout the year, you can save yourself some big bucks on mechanic’s fees, not to mention the time and energy saved by avoiding a roadside breakdown.  As our grandparents used to say - ‘a stitch in time saves nine,' and that really is the case when it comes to car maintenance. In this blog, the focus is on an often overlooked, but fundamental part of your vehicle - the wheels and tires. Going into Fall, it’s important to pay extra attention to your wheels and tires to make sure that your vehicle is roadworthy during storms or on slippery road surfaces. The average American drives around 17,000 miles per year. With a normal family car weighing around 2000 kilos, and longer heavier vehicles weighing up to twenty times this, at 44 tons, tires and wheels are subject to a huge amount of pressure and require regular maintenance to ensure that they last as long as possible, and dangerous incidents such as blow-outs mid-highway are avoided. On top of this, keeping your tires well maintained can optimize your vehicle’s efficiency and reduce fuel costs. So, what do you need to do to keep your wheels and tires in tip-top shape?

Check Your Air Pressure

If your tires are under-inflated, this will decrease your vehicle’s efficiency, and your vehicle will have to invest more energy each time it rotates the wheels, costing you more on fuel. It can also predispose the tire to wear down faster than normal, as well as decreasing the amount of grip produced by the tread, making it an important consideration from a safety perspective. There should be a sticker somewhere inside the driver’s door that states the ideal range of pressures for your specific model, but if not, this information can always be found in the owner’s manual. The pressure of each tire should be checked and adjusted at least once a month, and additionally before going on any long trips. You should make sure to check the pressure of your tires when they are cool as the pressure readings are altered when the tires are hot. Another fantastic way of increasing your vehicle’s efficiency is by switching to a synthetic motor oil. These provide superior lubrication and heat protection to your engine, maximizing its performance and efficiency. Call your local AMSOIL Dealer - Synthetic Oil Direct, today at 215 834 8720, to find out where to purchase these products near you.

Check for Wear, Bulges or Bubbles

When testing your tires’ pressure levels, it is also advisable to get down on the floor and take a good look at them to check for any visible signs of damage. Obviously, a bit of wear on the tread is normal and an unavoidable consequence of using your vehicle, but if the tread becomes too worn down, this can be dangerous as it can affect the vehicle’s handling, particularly during rain or on the ice. Check around all aspects of the tires, paying close attention to the rim, for any bulges or bubbles. If you spot any, you should immediately replace your tire with a spare, and take the damaged tire to be repaired or replaced. Bulges and bubbles are a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment, causing a tire blow-out and running the risk of causing a crash.

Rotate Tires Frequently

Despite the term, rotating your tires doesn't mean turning them around. You should swap the positions of your tires at regular intervals to optimize their lifespan. By rotating tires regularly, wear caused by the weight of the car is distributed more evenly. Before attempting to rotate your tires yourself, you should consult a mechanic or your user manual, as some are directional front to back only.

Synthetic Oil Change in Warrington

Paying attention to your wheels and tires and undertaking regular maintenance can help to improve your vehicle’s performance and efficiency, as well as prolonging the lifespan of your tires. In order to really get the most out of your vehicle’s performance, you should also consider upgrading from a traditional motor oil to a superior-quality synthetic version. These oils are scientifically developed by experts to be able to offer improved lubrication, protect from wear and better heat management in your vehicle’s engine. Call your local AMSOIL Dealer - Synthetic Oil Direct, today at 215 834 8720, to find out more about their excellent range of products and the many advantages offered by upgrading to synthetic motor oil.