Car tires are probably the most important components of the vehicle you drive and they are the biggest safety aspect since they are the components coming in contact with road surfaces. Tire grip is basically responsible for keeping a car on roads at particular speeds. Tires are also responsible for taking the entire friction generated by the braking systems of a car. Alongside, this necessitates inspecting and taking care of your car tires properly. Regular and periodic inspections of tires should be carried out for greater safety. You should not be driving around with tires that need to be replaced as early as possible. Inflation is another important aspect. Your tires should not be overtly inflated and pumped up and neither should they be under inflated.
Driving around with tires in poor condition can be potentially dangerous and even fatal for drivers and car owners. As a result, inspecting your tires should be a vital aspect of your overall routine. You should not neglect to inspect your car tires as this will keep you safe from many possible accidents and mishaps while driving on bad roads. The pressure of the tires should be checked by you at least once every month and there should be professional inspections of the tires carried out whenever an oil change is performed. This should also be done whenever the tires are rotated. Inspection of the tires should be combined with other periodic maintenance activities as and when required.
Tire inspections once comprised of just kicking or feeling up the tire and walking away upon satisfaction. This methodology was a vital part of our earlier efforts to gauge the accurate condition of our car tires. However, such methods will not work nowadays as you will not receive proper information with regard to the need for replacements of car tires. This will only let you hazard a guess at best and you should go for a tire gauge which is not very expensive. This will give you more accurate results and will help you understand the condition of your car tires.
You should check tire pressure above all else and there is an information plate placed inside each car. This usually contains the recommendations of the manufacturer with regard to the appropriate tire pressures for particular vehicles. Many car tires come with a listed pressure figure which is the maximum limit which it can take without any pressures. The recommended level of inflation is what you should ideally go for. Alongside, the inflation figures should always be taken from the vehicle itself and not from the tires. Incorrect inflation of tires can lead to various problems. Some of these problems include a sudden reduction in overall gas mileage owing to under inflation which also causes tire failures owing to sidewall pressure. The latter can sometimes be too heavy to handle and you should endeavor to check tire pressure regularly in order to keep your car free from all such possible problems.
The condition of the treads present on all car tires is very important when you think of performing tire inspections. Tread wear is very important if you take the drive wheels into consideration along with the front wheels. Tread wear is a vital factor for all car tires as treads assume importance when it comes to overall handling, steering, braking and the driving experiences. Uneven tread wear is what you should check first before all else. If you notice that wearing is more on any one side of the tire, this is a surefire sign of undue stress and pressure and impending failure. This is dangerous and should immediately be fixed before matters get out of hand. Alongside, you should also check tread depth very carefully as well. There are smooth bars that run across the tread grooves present and this serves as an indicator for tire changes and replacements.
In case the worn down tread is parallel to the bar, the tire should be changed almost immediately without any delays. Alongside, tread depth can be ascertained with the head of a penny. If the same cannot be inserted fully into the groove, the tire is still in decent shape. If not, you know it is time for a replacement. You should also endeavor to have small debris, glass bits, pieces of rock and other similar elements removed from the tread at times as they end up being forced into the tire and this leads to impending punctures which may leave you in the lurch at crucial junctures. There are certain things that are sometimes visible as far as damages to tires are concerned. Tire damage can often be quite visible and this includes particular punctures, splits, partings, cracks and other occurrences. Casing punctures and sidewall bulges are often witnessed quite visibly. These signs translate into the shortened life of the tire and the need for immediate replacement. Alongside, you can get punctures repaired for the time being but the other damages may well be irreversible, forcing you to purchase a new tire.
Always check the valve stems without neglecting the same. Look to see whether the valve cap is still present. These are small but vital with regard to keeping valves free from steady leaks and dirt. Little amounts of soil and dirt in valves can lead to unwarranted leaks and problems related to under inflation. Valve stems should be inspected carefully and regularly with regard to any leakages and missing valve caps should be replaced immediately. You should check tire pressure once every month as mentioned and fully inspect your car tires once every month with rotations. You should keep a fixed date for inspection; this will help you stick to your inspection schedule without any irregularities and fluctuations.
Always rotate your car tires as per a basic system based on the number of miles travelled or any other basis. Once you rotate your tires, get them inspected in order to find out any signs of damage. Slow yet steady leaks are another matter of concern. You should inspect your tires comprehensively with these tips and keep them in mint condition!