Long live your car tires

You’ve just purchased your shiny new dream car and you are ready to hit the road. As you exit the dealership you think of all of the maintenance necessary to take care of your new baby. You know to wash your car, load it with the correct grade of gas, and to never skip an oil change. But do you know how to take care of the one thing that actually makes contact with the road­ – your tires? If not, our Orlando Toyota Dealership is here to save the day. Tire maintenance doesn’t have to be a hassle and a drag. If you take the necessary precautions, tire care can be a breeze. 

Steer clear of premature tire failure

Toyota of Orlando wants to make sure you get the most out of your tires. So we are providing you with the sought after roadmap to saving time and money on your vehicle’s tires. The main guidelines to long living tires are to regularly inspect these three areas: 

• Air pressure
• Rotation
•  Tread

Air Pressure

Keeping up with your car tires’ air pressure is one of the most important parts of tire care. Not having the proper air pressure can take significant time off your tires’ life and also be a safety hazard to you and others on the road. Incorrect pressure can affect one’s handling, braking, fuel efficiency, and tread. Making sure to check the pressure of your vehicle’s tires with a proper tire gauge monthly can save you a whole lot of trouble.

Tires with incorrect air pressure wear unevenly and will not last as long as they are intended to. Underinflated tires have been proven to be one of the number one causes of excess fuel usage since they create rolling resistance making it that much harder for your engine to move the vehicle. Furthermore, a severely under-inflated tire can cause heat to build up and may eventually lead to blow outs.  To avoid this, monthly personal inspection and annual professional inspection of your car tires is recommended by Toyota of Orlando. 

Rotation

Another way to ensure your safety and extend the life of your car tires is to have them rotated. The different tire positions of your vehicle cause different types of wear on the tread. Therefore, it is very important to rotate them between the different positions to make certain that your tires wear down evenly. If this is done regularly you can steer clear of cupping and feathering which causes less road traction and a decreased ability to stop and turn. All that being said, make sure to always follow a set schedule for the rotation of your tires according to the specific brand’s maintenance schedule. 

Tread

Tread is the key aspect when it comes to your vehicle’s ability to stop and start on the road. Tires without sufficient tread-depth are more susceptible to penetration and are usually involved in wet weather accidents due to skidding on bald tires.  It is recommended to replace your tires when they reach a 2/32 inch of tread depth. You may be asking “How on Earth do I determine something like this?” Luckily, most car tires are equipped with tread-wear indicators to alert you when it is time to change them out.  

The tread-wear indicators are found in the tread grooves. When said grooves appear to have smooth banks you know your car has reached the cutoff point, and it’s time make the investment of a new set. Make sure to replace all four tires when you get to this point. It is common for people to purchase only one or two tires in order to save a few bucks. But if you only change the front two you are at risk for increased fishtailing, and if you only change the back two you lose traction especially in wet conditions.

Toyota of Orlando can help you

All that being said, your tires should take top priority when it comes to your vehicle’s maintenance. Just a little time will save you a whole lot of energy, money, and stress. So always remember to inspect your car tires monthly and come into our Orlando Toyota Dealership for all of your tire needs and your annual inspection.  Visit our website or call our service center at (407) 298-4500 and make an appointment today!