Sizzling summer temperatures take a toll on a variety of items and materials, including the rubber of your car’s tires. With a little help from useful tips, you can protect the tires and lengthen their lifespan.
Clean and Coat
The heat and humidity of summer affect tires in several negative ways, such as drying out the rubber, which causes deterioration of the material. One way to help tires during the summer is by washing each regularly and coating with a tire protectant. These two simple steps help the tires from drying out and wearing out faster.
Visual Inspection
There’s nothing better than a regular visual inspection. By following a schedule, you’ll notice any issues with the tires such as lumps, splits or cracks, bare tread, and bumps or bubbles. If any of these issues are found, the tire(s) need to be replaced immediately. It’s also important to check each tire’s pressure at least once a month. Check your owner’s manual for the recommended PSI and inflate or deflate as needed.
Tire Rotation
It’s important to have the tires checked by a professional mechanic to ensure the vehicle is properly aligned and wheels balanced so it drives smoothly. If the wheels are off-kilter, it will result in uneven wear and tear on the tires.
When the tread wears down on one tire, it isn’t always the same for the others. For example, the front tires tend to experience wear on the tread faster than the rear tires.
When uneven tire wear occurs, the next step is to have the tire rotated. This means front tires are rotated to the rear, and rear tires are rotated to the front. It’s also possible for tires to be rotated from one side of the car to the other so there’s an even deterioration of the tread over time.
This means you’ll be getting the most life as possible from the tires before they need to be replaced. Schedule tire rotation regularly and alignment and tire balancing once a year.
Lighter Loads
If you keep your car packed with extra “stuff” in the trunk or cargo space that isn’t necessary, all you’ve managed to do is add extra weight. Due to the added weight, it puts stress on the braking system because it takes a longer distance to stop the vehicle’s momentum.
The extra weight coupled with the extended time it takes to stop means more time for the tires to come in contact with the street pavement. This means more friction against the tires, which speeds up the wearing down of the tread. Keep only what you need in the vehicle and leave the rest at home.
When the summer season is in full swing, it’s time to create a plan of action to protect your car’s tires. Put that plan into action to ensure a safer drive and longer life for your tires
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