How to Take Care of Your Car Tires

Remembering to care for your vehicle tires is vital for improving fuel efficiency, handling, and safety. Unless you need a new set of wheels you can make sure that your tires are in good condition by taking care of certain things, including conducting a few simple checks: 

• New Mexico roads are tough on our tires. Bumps and potholes are notorious for causing uneven tire pressure, so you must constantly monitor them. Improper inflation causes premature wear, decreases efficiency, and can cause a blowout in the worst cases. Take 10 minutes out of your Sunday to check your pressure before driving for the week. If your car has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, check that it works correctly so you get accurate readings. By regularly checking these things, you'll be safer when you hit the road.
• Rotating your tires every 5,000 miles and checking your alignment a couple of times a year are two important things to put on the calendar. When technicians rotate your tires, they move them to different wheel positions. This process helps your tires last longer by evening out the wear on each one, extending their lifespan. A good rule of thumb is to rotate your tires whenever you get an oil change. Additionally, aligning your tires from time to time is essential, particularly the front ones, to prevent any significant difference in their pointing direction and to avoid any hazardous drifting of your vehicle towards one side. A qualified facility like our service department at Melloy Dodge can measure and adjust the difference according to manufacturer specifications.
• Regardless of how well you care for them, tires only live so long. This is where the penny pressure test comes in. It's an expert-recommended and straightforward way to check for dangerous tread depth. Doing so on several grooves of each tire, grab a penny and insert it into a tread with Lincoln's head facing down. Look at the visible part of the penny. If you can see the top of Abe's head often, your tire's tread is shallow and it's time to replace your set.   

Taking care of your tires is relatively simple but crucial. Regular tire inspection and maintenance will help extend your tires' lifespan and keep you safe. If you see an issue beyond your comprehension, call our service department, and we'll gladly lend a helping hand.