Taking Care Of My Car

Reducing Your Risk Of A Flat Tire: Tips For Caring For Your Car Tires

A flat tire can easily result in a great deal of stress. This is especially true if you discover the flat when you are already running late. Having a tire blow out while you are driving can also put your safety at risk. That is why it is important for you to take steps to ensure your car tires are properly cared for to minimize your risk of getting a flat tire. Thankfully, the simple tips outlined below can help you to accomplish these tasks. 

Tip #1: Get Your Tires Rotated And Balanced

Getting your tires rotated and balanced on a regular basis will not only ensure a smoother ride, but it will also allow you to promote even tread wear and detect issues with your tires before they can result in a blowout. Oftentimes, the most convenient way to address this maintenance requirement is to combine it with other standard maintenance such as having your oil changed. 

Tip #2: Always Replace Tires In Pairs

It can be tempting to replace just a single tire if only one of your tires has been damaged. However, it is not a good idea to put just one new tire on your vehicle. This is because having one tire that has considerably more tread than the corresponding tire on the opposite side of your vehicle can interfere with your tire's ability to effectively grip the road. You will also find that extra stress is being put on the tire with more tread causing it to wear out faster. That is why it is always a good idea to replace your tires in pairs. This means buying either two or four new tires each time you purchase car tires

Tip #3: Check Your Tire Tread Regularly For Signs Of Wear

You will not be able to avoid all flat tire hazards on the road even with brand new tires. After all, even the deepest tire treads will be no match for a poorly placed screw or nail. With that being said, you should know that driving on tires that do not have sufficient tread greatly increases your risk of a tire puncture. That is why it is important for you to be aware of just how much tread your tires have remaining. An easy way to tell whether or not the tread on your tires has worn too thin is to stick a penny in the tread upside down. If you are able to see the top of Lincoln's head on your penny, it is time to invest in a new set of tires.