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TIRE ROTATION

Hot Tips to Keep Your Tires Cool This Summer

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Without a doubt, extreme temperatures can affect your car, including your tires. Tires expand and contract as temperatures rise and fall, and they typically can handle those variations without much problem. Yet, those temperature extremes can also lead to tire failure, which may happen at the most inopportune time, such as when you are on the highway far from home.

Taking care of your tires will ensure that your trip goes as planned, barring any other problems that may suddenly arise. To that end, we have listed some of the more useful tips to help keep your tires cool this summer.

1. Inflate your tires to the proper level. What confounds not a few drivers are the inflation rates for tires. On the sidewalls themselves, there are recommended inflation levels embossed by the manufacturer. However, the inflation rate you should use or PSI is what the car manufacturer identifies as being correct. In this case, it is information found in your owner’s manual or on a placard located on the driver’s door jamb or in the glove box.

2. Purchase a quality tire pressure gauge. There are tire pressure gauges and then there are tire pressures gauges. Some gauges are cheaply made and may not render a correct number. Others are better constructed and will deliver the most accurate reading every time. In any case, spending $10 on a tire gauge will be one of the best investments you have ever made.

3. Check your tires when they are cold. To get an accurate reading on air pressure, only check your tires when they are still cold. Drive more than a mile to a tire pump and you will get an inaccurate reading. That reading may cause you to over-inflate your tires, which can lead to premature wear. In a worst-case scenario, it could also lead to tire failure.

4. Be consistent with your tire care. Tires, like the rest of your car, need maintenance. You should rotate your tires about once every 6,000 miles or twice per year. The front end should be aligned if you have hit potholes and the tires may need to be balanced from time to time. In between, you should inspect the tires and check inflation levels. A monthly check is typically sufficient, but do this more often if you drive a lot.

5. Be mindful of hard-to-find punctures. If one tire is constantly losing air, that’s a sure sign that it has a puncture and may eventually fail. On closer inspection, you may find that the tire has a nail, hidden away within the grooves or otherwise out of sight. Remove the nail and seal the puncture. You can do this yourself or take it to a garage for work.

Inspect Your Tires

Hot weather can fool you into thinking that your tires are fine, especially as your cabin keeps you cool. But pavement temperatures and rubber can become quite hot, putting your tires at risk of failure. Therefore, before you take that big trip this summer, inspect your tires carefully and have all maintenance performed before you hit the road.

And if you have an auto club membership, ensure that it is up to date and offers the coverage that you need. Bring with you the proper emergency phone number or download the related app to contact roadside assistance, if needed.

Finally, if you are in need of new tires, talk with your service center about the options available for your car. If you replace two tires, those should be placed on the back of your vehicle. If you replace four tires, you should receive a discount, perhaps receiving one tire for free.

See Also — Flat Answers: Run-flat Tires vs. Repair Kit vs. Spare

Photo credit: MikesPhotos

NHTSA Launches TireWise Safety Campaign

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Tire safety and your car.

TireWise Campaign
The NHTSA is helping raise automobile tire awareness through its TireWise campaign. Pictured is a form that can keep consumers in the loop.

Tire-related crashes contribute to more than 11,000 accidents and kill at least 200 people each year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To assist consumers with selecting and maintaining their tires, the NHTSA has introduced its TireWise safety campaign, covering topics ranging from tire aging to tread wear.

Safety is our top priority and following these simple guidelines will help prevent needless deaths and injuries every year, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. This campaign will help consumers make more informed choices every step of the way when it comes to choosing and caring for their tires – keeping them safer and saving them money at the same time.

TireWise Safety Campaign

The TireWise safety campaign is featured on the federal government’s SaferCar.gov website with that content available to consumers, retailers and tire manufacturers.

Included in the campaign is advice that can be especially useful at various stages of the tire buying, maintenance and replacement process. For tire buying, TireWise shows consumers how to choose the right type of tire including its size and rating. The NHTSA advises car owners to check their tires monthly and how best to accomplish that task.

The campaign also advises monthly checks for treadwear and covers the effects of aging that can lead to failure. And just in time for summer, TireWise notes how high temperatures can effect tire life. The campaign also details when tires should be replaced.

Working with retailers and tire manufacturers allows us to reach the consumers at the time they are making these critical decisions, which is essential in building public awareness of tire-safety issues, said NHTSA Acting Administrator David Friedman. Since the implementation of NHTSAs new tire standards, weve seen a significant decrease in tire-related fatalities, and we look forward to working with retailers, manufacturers, and other partners in the industry to continue improving traffic safety.

Related Video Outreach

One of the related materials for the TireWise safety campaign is a video, Life of a Tire, that the NHTSA has posted to its YouTube page. The video visualizes the steps consumers take when replacing a tire and how to care for new ones.

Retailers are also provided with a “Congratulations on Your New Tire Purchase” form that includes a tire registration portion to alert consumers when a recall has been announced. Space is also provided to fill in the tire’s manufacture date and its recommended service life. Tire pressure check and tire rotation interval information may also be filled in.

Mobile App for Droid and Apple

The NHTSA provides a SaferCar mobile app that is compatible with Apple and Droid products. Later this year the app will be updated to make it possible for consumers to sign up for tire recall alerts. They will also be able to use the app to submit complaints about their tires.

In the meantime, current recall information is shared via social media — follow the NHTSA on Twitter or on Facebook for those updates. You can also have recall information sent to you by signing up on the SaferCar.gov website where email alerts and RSS feeds are provided.

Additional Tire Articles

Summer Tires for the Ultimate in Driving Performance

What to Look for in a New Tire Warranty

How to Buy New Tires for Your Car

Hankook Tire: No Longer Anonymous

What to Look for in a New Tire Warranty

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Are you shopping for new tires? This can be a good move on your part, especially if your current tires show signs of wear or have simply been on your car longer than six years. If you buy two tires, your tire installer will place these on the rear of your vehicle regardless of your vehicles drive axle, a safety move recommended by tire manufacturers. If you buy four tires, you can typically strike a better deal as many retailers and manufacturers offer specials including a price reduction for replacing all four tires. For instance, that special could mean $70 off of a set of four new tires or buy three tires and get the fourth one free.

When buying new tires, you will be presented with a limited warranty. Not all warranties are the same and you should know what coverage is being offered beyond the purchase and installation of new tires.

Tread Wear Warranty

A tread wear or tread life warranty is typically offered across the board by tire manufacturers. For instance, if your tires are rated to last for up to 70,000 miles and wear out at 45,000 miles, then you may qualify for a credit toward the purchase of new tires. Expect that an age limit will be present too you may receive no credit if your tires are old.

worn tire
A tire that is ready to be replaced.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Your credit is typically only good for the purchase of tires from the same manufacturer. Thus, if you have Michelin tires and these tires wear out ahead of time, your credit may be applied to new Michelins only. Your original retailer, however, may allow you to claim credit to buy another brands tires, but that is at the discretion of the shop.

Rotations and Balancing

Your new tires should be rotated at least once every 6,000 miles to a maximum of 8,000 miles. When purchasing new tires, you may be offered a tire service installation special that includes lifetime rotations and tire balancing. Typically, you will be charged a fee per tire, such as $20 each or $80 for four new tires. These plans are usually worthwhile, and you can recoup your cost after just two tire change outs. Within five years you can save $200 or more choose this option if you expect to keep your car for several years.

Some service plans also include flat-tire repair. Here, you bring your damaged tire to your retailer for repair and have it mounted back on your car. This plan may not cover you if you are far from home, unless you buy your tire from a chain such as Pep Boys, Advance Auto or Wal-mart. In this case you should be able to bring your car to a local store anywhere.

Flat Tire Changing Assistance

Not all manufacturers offer this feature, but if your tire goes flat within the first two or three years after installation, you may qualify for roadside assistance. Typically, you will be offered a toll-free number to call in the event of a flat, with a service professional dispatched to your location to swap out your flat with your fully inflated spare. Always keep a working spare handy, otherwise this assistance is worthless to you.

Your Responsibilities

It is important for consumers to take good care of their tires. Monthly tire inspections can help, with tires inflated to car manufacturer recommendations.

Tires should be rotated and balanced on schedule, and worn tires replaced when there is less than 2/32 inches of tread remaining. You can perform the Abe Lincoln penny test to determine wear. Also, many tires come with wear bands or wear indicators that reveal when your tires need to be replaced.

Tire Considerations

How important are tires to your car? Very much so! Tires are the only thing that separates your car from the ground and tires that are in good shape can certainly help you keep your car under control. A set of four new tires can cost you from $400 installed, a small investment for a vehicle that is worth many times that amount.

How to Buy New Tires for Your Car

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Save money by shopping carefully for new tires.

You have been driving your car for three or four years and have noticed that your tires are showing signs of wear. Regular rotations and the occasional realignment have kept your tires in fairly good shape, but the miles have piled up and tire age is another consideration. If you plan to keep your car, then you need to get new tires. You may be able to get away with just two tires, but with retailers offering deals on a set of four, an all-around replacement may be your best choice.

Keep in mind the following considerations when shopping for new tires:

1. How long you plan to keep your car. If you plan to keep your car for another year or two, then opt for tires with a 40,000-mile tread wear. You’ll save money over tires with a tread life of 60,000 to 90,000 miles, and will offer the next buyer or dealer good tires that won’t negatively impact your cars resale value.

tires2. The kind of driving you do. The best bet for tire shoppers is to choose all-season radials, regardless of whether you live in Florida or in Minnesota. Such tires provide superior grip and can handle light winter driving weather conditions. Some tires are also better for performance cars. For instance, summer tires enhance handling, but are not very good with traction. Other tires offer a more comfortable ride, but aren’t great for cornering. Your tire service professional can show you a variety of tires, each with benefits for the type of ride you want.

3. Exchange size for size. Your car came off of the assembly line outfitted with certain tires that are best for your vehicle. Although you may have room to get a different sized tire (and wheels as well), you would do best to stick with the tire size you already have. Check your tire’s sidewall and take note of the code that is printed on it. For instance, you will see something like this: P185/60R14 82H. The P tells you that it is a passenger car tire. The first three numbers (185) gives you tire width in millimeters, the 60 represents its aspect ratio and the R is for radial. The 14 is the wheel’s diameter and the 82H represents its load index and speed symbol. You will find other information printed on your tire too, but the code is of greatest importance.

4. Shop for new tires. Shopping around can save you a bundle on new tires, but please know this: manufacturers really would like for you to replace all four tires and will usually offer incentives when you buy a full set. Those incentives typically include a rebate that you can apply immediately to your purchase price and may range from $50 to $70, sometimes more. Essentially, you’re buying four tires, but are paying for three. Prices vary from retailer to retailer so check newspaper ads, look online and call around for quotes.

5. Consider a service plan. New tires come with a warranty and that means if your tire wears out early or is destroyed, the manufacturer or retailer will offer a pro-rated price on the old tire to apply to the purchase price of a new tire. Consider a service or protection plan if it delivers benefits you determine are worthwhile including free tire replacement, free rotations, one or more free front-end alignments and safety checks. You’ll pay for the plan, but it might prove worthwhile to you.

Tire Considerations

Follow manufacturer guidelines on choosing the right tires for your cars. Rotate your tires on a regular basis and always keep your tires properly inflated. Proper inflation numbers can be found on the inside door jamb of the driver’s door or in your glove box. Use these numbers and not the numbers found on the tires. And don’t forget the spare — one of your older tires could be an ideal replacement for an aged or worn out spare.

See Also — Not All Truck Tires Are Created Equal