Happy November! November is an essential time to remember the importance of tire care, especially with winter rapidly approaching. At Walt’s Auto Service, your safety and vehicle longevity are our top priorities. Recognizing that your car is a significant investment, taking care of its tires ensures you're prepared for all future excursions. With the colder season on the horizon, now is the ideal moment to swing by Walt’s for a thorough tire inspection, gearing up for those scenic spring and summer drives.
So, what should be on your radar this month? Think about smooth rides, consistent tire rotations, pressure assessments, and proper alignments. Feel the road confidently, knowing the committed team at Walt’s is behind you every mile. Regular tire upkeep promises a smoother journey and guarantees head-turning moments at car shows. Let's keep the momentum and savor every trip!
When should you replace your tires?
Everything comes with a shelf life, even the tires on our vehicles. Periodic tire replacement is crucial for ensuring your vehicle performs at its best. When should you consider making that change?
Treadwear
Tire tread wear is a primary sign that it's time for a tire replacement. Tread refers to the patterned grooves on the tire's surface, pivotal in ensuring traction on diverse road surfaces and under varying weather conditions such as rain, ice, and snow.
The rubber may harden and develop cracks with age and use, and the tread will inevitably thin out. This deterioration can compromise your vehicle's braking and handling, increasing the risk of flats or blowouts. So, how can you determine when the wear on your tire treads necessitates a replacement? There are several techniques to consider!
The penny test. You likely have a slight change rattling around in a cup holder in your car. If you do, you can perform a simple test to check the wear on your tires. Place a penny vertically between the tread grooves on the tire, with Lincoln's head facing down. Then, kneel down level with your tire and see how much of the penny is covered. If Lincoln's head is obvious, your tread is too worn, and you'll likely need new tires.
The quarter test. You can perform a similar test with a quarter if you don't have a penny. Following the exact instructions, see if the tread touches Washington's head. If it doesn't, it's time to look at replacing the tires.
Tire tread wear bar
If you don't have any change on hand or only have nickels and dimes, all tires should come with their wear indicator, called the "tire tread wear bar." This little strip of rubber runs perpendicular to your tread and can usually be found in the bottom of the tread groove. If these bars are even with the surrounding tread, this indicates the need to replace your tires.
Flats and punctures
If your tire is completely flat and has a hole, the solution is simple: You need to replace it. However, not all flats are the same or as obvious, and the way you deal with it depends on how it got that way in the first place. If you suspect you might have a leaky tire, there are a few ways to be sure.
First, inspect the tire for any apparent signs. This could be a nail or any other sharp object protruding from the tire. While a nail in your tire doesn't necessarily mean it has punctured the inner tube and caused a leak, removing it is usually a good idea.
With a pair of pliers or a claw hammer, remove the nail. Many tires will try and self-seal, but you should still have a plug on hand. You can drive with a nail in your tire for a short distance, but it can be dangerous. Simply hitting a curb or a bump could drive the nail in further and possibly cause a blowout.
If the puncture isn't obvious, further testing may be required. For this, you'll need a bucket of soapy water and a brush. Alternatively, you can mix such a solution in an empty spray bottle. The objective is to coat the surface of the tire with the mixture and look for soapy bubbles to form as the air escapes.
If you identify the leak's source (or sources), highlight them using duct tape, a metallic marker, or another conspicuous marking method. This assists tire technicians in pinpointing the problem swiftly. If the leak is severe enough to make driving risky, stow the compromised tire in your trunk and switch to your spare. This will allow you to reach a tire repair facility safely, or you can transport the tire using another vehicle.
A leak doesn't always necessitate a tire replacement. If the tread remains intact, many tire centers can fix the issue. Nonetheless, delaying repairs on any puncture or hole is inadvisable, no matter how minor it appears.
Routine tire maintenance: How to get the most out of your new tires
So, you've got yourself a new set of tires for one reason or another. How can you make the most out of them? Let's dive in.
Check and maintain tire air pressure.
First and foremost, you must ensure your tire pressure is adequate. If your tires are overinflated, it causes the center tread to wear at a different rate than the tread on the outer part of the tire. Of course, this means you'll likely have to replace your tires more frequently, which could result in poor traction and an altogether less comfortable ride.
However, if you need more air in the tire, you might have too much of the tire making contact with the road. The excess friction can cause issues with your gas mileage and, again, cause the tread to wear more quickly.
This is a function of both the tire and the vehicle. With a tire pressure gauge, you can remove the cap and check the pressure (in pounds per square inch, or PSI). But how do you know what the correct PSI for your tire is? There are a few ways you can check.
On the tire:
The first and most obvious place to check for the recommended tire pressure is on the tire itself. You can usually find this on the side of the tire, typically below the manufacturer's logo. It will say something along the lines of "Max.Pressure 30 PSI."
However, it's worth noting that this is typically the maximum allowable pressure - not the pressure that is necessarily the best for your vehicle.
It's a good idea to check your tire pressure frequently. If you notice that there is always a substantial pressure drop, inspect the tire for leaks and possibly replace them. Checking them once a month is a good idea, but consider checking the pressure each time you're fueling up at the gas station. Additionally, before you go on a road trip or any long drive, make sure your tires are aired up.
It's also worth noting that not every car has 4 identical tires. This means it is possible that you need different tire pressures for the front and back. Again, consult your owner manual for specific details.
Rotate your tires
Rotating your tires is a simple way to increase the lifespan of your tires by making sure that they wear more evenly over time. As you can imagine, your tires wear differently based on where they are located in the car.
For example, a front-wheel drive car uses the front tires to generate power and propel the car forward, so they naturally wear faster than the rear wheels. Similarly, the rear tires in a rear-wheel drive vehicle will do the bulk of the work and will likely wear faster than the front.
Because tires wear differently based on the type of vehicle you have, there are different methods or rotation patterns you should consider when rotating them.
Front-wheel drive vehicles. Remove the front tires and place them in the rear position on the same side. Take the rear tires and place them in the front position of the opposite side. For example, the right front tire should rotate to the right rear position, and the left rear tire should go to the right front position.
Rear-wheel drive vehicles. For rear-wheel drive vehicles, the process is similar to the rotation pattern for front-wheel drive vehicles but inverted. Take the rear tires and place them in the front position on the same side. Then, take the front tires and place them on the opposite side in the rear position. For example, your right rear tire should rotate to the right front, and your left front should rotate to the right back position.
All-wheel drive vehicles. For all-wheel drive vehicles, rotate in a crisscross pattern. In other words, your left front should go to the right rear, the right back to the left front, and so on.
Of course, not all cars have the same wheel and tire size for all four positions. For example, some high-performance sports cars have wider tires in the rear for extra traction. In such a scenario, you obviously can't rotate the rear tires to the front position or vice versa, so turning your tires might not be possible.
Some high-performance tires are unidirectional, meaning they are only designed to spin in one direction. These tires cannot be rotated simply by moving the wheels; instead, they must first be taken off of the rotation entirely and placed back on in the correct orientation.
If you're uncertain whether your vehicle is front, rear, or all-wheel drive, consult your owner's manual for clarification. While rotating your tires is certainly something you can do at home, it's always best to consult a professional shop if you have any questions or concerns about the process.
Either way, to get the most out of your tires, it is recommended that you rotate them every 3000-5000 miles or every six months. An excellent way to remember this is to rotate them whenever you change your oil.
Balance your tires and wheels.
The idea of balancing your tires is to ensure that it has an even weight distribution around the entire tire. If the weight is out of balance, it causes the tire to wobble slightly, which can result in uneven tire wear, vibrating steering wheels, and a bumpy ride in general. If you notice any of these symptoms while driving, significantly as you increase your speed, then you need to have your tires balanced.
Fortunately, balancing a tire is a relatively painless process, but it needs to be done carefully and precisely. For this reason, it's usually something you'll need the help of a tire shop to do.
The shop will remove the wheel and place it on a machine that spins the wheel and tire to measure whether or not it is balanced, how much it is out of balance, and where. Then, they attach small weights to the appropriate area, usually in small increments, like half an ounce.
Because the tire and wheel have to be removed to be properly balanced, this is usually a process that is done when you're either getting new tires or having your tires rotated. So, the next time you're getting new tires or having them rotated, ask your technician to balance them, too.
Get a tire and wheel alignment.
If you've ever noticed that you must hold your steering wheel at an angle to keep your car moving straight, you likely have experienced alignment issues. Other indicators may also include steering wheel vibration, a tendency for your vehicle to pull left or right, and, unsurprisingly, uneven tire wear.
As you can imagine, a vehicle out of alignment can be dangerous. It can make driving much more complex and puts you at risk of a blowout. For this reason, if you notice any of the symptoms outlined above, you must take your vehicle to the shop for alignment.
So what exactly is a "tire alignment" anyway? Although it is referred to as a tire alignment, it relates to the angle at which your wheels and tires are connected to your vehicle's suspension system. An alignment corrects three main angles: camber, caster, and toe (for a more in-depth look at these terms, check out this link).
Generally speaking, these terms describe the different angles of your tires about your vehicle's body and the steering axis. These angles can affect steering capability and inevitably lead to uneven tire wear. When mechanics conduct an alignment, they adjust these angles, ensuring that the tires are correctly aligned with the vehicle and the road.
A vehicle's alignment can gradually shift due to regular wear and tear. However, the most notable changes arise after installing new tires, replacing suspension components, experiencing a car accident, or encountering significant impacts like hitting a large pothole.
Given its intricacies, tire alignment is a sophisticated procedure that demands specific equipment and software. Therefore, entrusting this task to a well-equipped professional garage specializing in alignments is advisable.
Walts Auto Service is a great place to be when you need auto repair services with great auto mechanics you can trust. Over the years, our ethics of honesty, trust, and integrity are what make us one of the most reliable auto repair shops in Torrance and the surrounding areas of Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Palos Verdes, Hawthorne, Carson, Lomita, and Gardena! We are AAA certified and proud to provide you with the best in-house and nationwide 3-year/36,000-mile warranty in the South Bay area. When you need a steady hand, an eye for detail offered with straight, honest talk, bring your car into Walt’s Auto Service.
Book an appointment or give us a call! We are located at 340 Van Ness Ave, Unit A, Torrance, CA 90501.