Tire Center Alexandria VA
While it's easy to overlook your vehicle's tires, performing a few simple checks will offer better fuel economy, vehicle handling, and safety. Did you know that you have to care for them regularly? Yep, you read that right. Your vehicle tires require regular maintenance. A lot of folks think only the engine needs maintenance. However, ensuring your car is riding on healthy tires is also crucial.
Maintaining Proper Tire Pressure
Proper tire pressure is essential for more than just reducing the potential of a flat tire or a blowout. Correct tire pressure provides your vehicle with optimum handling for everyday driving and emergency maneuvers. Even a tire that doesn't appear to be low on air can result in reduced vehicle handling and excessive tread wear. Since most tire damage and wear is a result of driving on tires that are improperly inflated, tire experts suggest checking your air pressure once a month. Using a tire pressure gauge, you will unscrew the cap from the tire's valve stem and place the round end of the gauge over the stem. Push down on the gauge with some force to ensure there is a good seal. To determine what the tire pressure is, read the numbers and lines on the bottom of the gauge.
Wear and Tear on Your Tires
You can troubleshoot most of your tire problems simply by looking at them. If you have too much air in your tires, called over-inflated, the middle section will bulge and wear down faster than the sides or the edges. If your tires are underinflated, the sides will sag, wearing down the edges much faster than the center of each tire. This is one of the most common reasons for premature tire wear. In addition, when your car is out of alignment, one side of each tire will wear down faster than the other.
Know Your Tread Depth
The tread of a tire or track refers to the rubber on its circumference that makes contact with the road and provides traction. When driving in the rain or even through a puddle, it's the tread that prevents the water from sliding your car around. This is why inspecting your tires tread regularly is a good idea. When checking your tread, you want to look for depth. This is where the "quarter trick" comes in. The Quarter Trick is when you insert a quarter headfirst into your tire's tread. If you can see all of George Washington's head, your tire tread has worn down, and you need to replace it. Perform this measurement at the outer, center, and inner edge in case of an inflation problem.
Don't Forget to Rotate Your Tires
Most people don't realize that their vehicle's front and back wheels perform different functions. This is why rotating your tires are essential. To get the most life out of every tire, you should rotate the front and back tires. In addition, it is recommended you rotate your tires with every oil change. Lucky for you, when you bring your vehicle to Ourisman Automotive, our technicians will rotate and inspect your tires every visit.
Ourisman Automotive of Virginia is Your Tire Center
When you visit any of the Ourisman Automotive of Virginia service centers, your vehicle will be in the hands of factory-trained and certified technicians who will provide exceptional service promptly. Our expert technicians use the latest digital technology to diagnose and repair your vehicle using only genuine OEM replacement parts. We are dedicated to maintaining top-tier customer service for both new and pre-owned car buyers! Allow our staff to demonstrate our commitment to excellence. Schedule your service appointment today!