Regular attention will ensure your safety and extend the life of your tires. Between visits to your Ken Towery's Tire and AutoCare Center, inspect your tires on a regular basis for inflation, tread wear, cracking or cuts in the sidewalls as well as bulges or blisters. Also pay attention to the vehicle’s performance and responsiveness to be alerted to any potential tire troubles.
Inflation Level
- A recent Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) survey found that just 19% of drivers check their inflation pressure properly. The same study mentioned that properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by about 3.3%.
- Not sure of the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle? It should be printed on a placard in the vehicle either on a doorjamb, the fuel-filler door, or on the inside of the glove-compartment lid. You can also ask your Ken Towery's tire professional or refer to your owner's manual.
- Take readings of a tire’s air pressure with an accurate tire pressure gauge. Don't judge the pressure by eyeballing a tire. Modern radial tires bulge slightly, making them look a little underinflated, even when they're not. Tire pressure gauges are available for about $5 — a small price to pay for something so important.
- Remember to check pressure while your tires are cold and you’ve not recently driven on them. Driving as little as one mile will increase your tire pressure and give an inaccurate reading.
- A tire’s sidewall flexes more at lower tire pressures, which can cause excessive heat build up. This can shorten a tire's life and possibly lead to a tread separation or blowout.
- Experiencing a continual loss of inflation pressure could indicate a possible tire or wheel assembly problem. If you experience this situation, consult your Ken Towery's tire professional immediately.
Recognizing Wear Patterns – Sometimes as tires wear, patterns emerge which can be a sign of problems either with your vehicle or tires. Drop by your nearest Ken Towery's Tire and AutoCare Center to have your tires check if you notice any of these patterns:
|
Pattern |
Possible Cause |
Problems & Solutions |
|
Wear on both edges |
Underinflation |
- reduces tire treadlife by increasing the tread wear on its
outside edges, or shoulders.
- generates excessive heat which reduces tire toughness.
- reduces fuel economy through increased rolling resistance
because soft tires make your vehicle work harder.
Abnormal tire wear may also be caused by misalignment or mechanical problems. |
|
Wear in center |
Overinflation |
- center of the tread bears most of the load and wears out
faster than the outside edges.
- uneven wear reduces the useful life of a tire.
This could be the result of misalignment or mechanical problems. |
|
Cups or dips in the tread |
Worn Parts |
- cupping (also called dipping) is most common on front tires,
although rear tires can cup as well.
- it may be a sign that wheels are out of balance or that
suspension or steering system parts are worn out |
|
Sawtooth edges |
Misalignment |
- if the edges of your tire tread take on a sawtooth or
feathered appearance, it's because of erratic scrubbing against
the road.
- the solution is an alignment correction. |
Tire Tread – Ken Towery’s recommends checking your tire tread every 3,000 miles. It’s easy to check yourself for signs of tire tread wear by using either of two methods.
- A popular (and very easy) way of checking is often referred to as the “penny test.” All you need to do is take a penny turned so that Lincoln’s head is upside down and facing you and insert it into your tire's tread groove. It’s time to replace your tire if you can see all of Lincoln's head.
- You can also check your tread by looking at the tread wear indicator bar. These bars are molded into your tires at the bottoms of the tread grooves in several locations around the tire. The bars become flush with the adjacent tread rims when a tire is well-worn. If you see the bars, it's time to visit Ken Towery’s for a replacement.
Tire Balancing – You will notice vibration if your tires are unbalanced, a situation which can lead to driver fatigue, premature or irregular tire wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Your tires should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or any time they are remounted after repair. Ask your tire professional at Ken Towery’s to check your tire balance at the first sign of vibration or shimmy.
Vehicle Alignment – When all of your vehicle’s suspension and steering components are working smoothly and your tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true, your vehicle is properly aligned. Uneven tread wear may indicate a misalignment and that it’s time for your vehicle to be serviced at Ken Towery's Tire and AutoCare Center.
Tire Rotation – Many people have enough knowledge and confidence in their automotive skills to rotate their own tires, but a professional can accomplish the task quickly and easily. If no specific proper rotation pattern and schedule is indicated in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, Ken Towery's suggests having your tires rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
Tire Repair – Proper repair procedure includes dismounting the tire from the wheel, a process which should only be done by a trained tire professional. This allows the tire to be thoroughly inspected for damage and for patches and plugs to be used to mend any punctures that fall within the guidelines for repair.
If you note any of the early warning signs of tire failure, have a professional inspection performed. Your Ken Towery's Tire and AutoCare Center will be able to check and correct items that may be causing the condition or, in some cases, recommend replacement.