3 Helpful Car Tire Maintenance Tips
3 Helpful Car Tire Maintenance Tips
Posted on February 24, 2024
Taking good care of the tires on your vehicle is important because it keeps you and your passengers safe, helps you use less gas, improves your performance on the road and saves you money.
Yes!
Car tire maintenance can save you thousands of dollars.
Tires are expensive. And because we recommended buying tires in pairs or sets (because driving with mismatched tires can be dangerous and cause issues with everything from how your car steers to brakes), tire purchases can sometimes cost thousands of dollars.
The better you care for your tires, the longer they will last. The longer they last, the less money you need to spend replacing them.
This blog will walk you through our three essential car tire maintenance tips. Ready to start learning? Read on!
Car Tire Maintenance Tip 1: Check Your Tire Pressure Often!
Proper tire pressure is essential for safety, fuel efficiency, and tire longevity. Pick up a tire pressure gauge and store it in your vehicle or garage at home.
Then set a reminder in your calendar to check your tire pressure at least once a month, and especially before you hit the road on an extended trip.
You can find the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle inside the owner's manual in the glove box.
To check your tire pressure, remove the small cap on the air valve inside your tire and press the gauge onto the valve. If the reading is lower than the recommended tire pressure, use an air pump either at home or a gas station to add more air to your tire.
If the number on your gauge is higher than the recommended tire pressure, make sure to let some air out.
Insider Tip: We recommend checking your tire pressure after your vehicle has been parked for at least three to four hours. Tires tend to expand when they are warm so make sure your tires are cold and have been resting for a while before trying to get an accurate reading.
Car Tire Maintenance Tip 2: Check Your Tread Depth Often!
Tires with low tread depth can cause all sorts of headaches, especially when the road conditions are less than ideal (think Toronto in the middle of February).
The best way to check your tire tread depth is using a gauge (this is different than your tire pressure gauge but we recommend storing the two together).
Once you find the pin on the gauge, insert it between the tread patterns on your tire.
Push the gauge flat against the tire tread and then read the numbers to see what your tread depth is.
The recommended minimum tread depth for tires is 2/32 of an inch. However, it is generally advised to replace tires when the tread depth reaches 4/32 of an inch for winter tires and 5/32 of an inch for all-season tires.
This is because tires with deeper tread provide better traction, especially in wet or snowy conditions.
Insider Tip: Need to check your tire tread depth but don’t have a gauge on you? Use a toonie! If the tread hits the polar bear's paws, you are in the clear. If the tread covers the silver part of the toonie, your tires are halfway to being worn out. If the tread does not hit the letters CANADA or DOLLARS, we recommend purchasing new tires right away!
Car Tire Maintenance Tip 3: Make Regular Service Appointments
Recommended regular service appointments for vehicles are not just a way for service shops to make money (despite what you might have been told).
These regular check-ups help your mechanic or service team stay on top of the needs of your vehicle as they arise. When it comes to tires, they need maintenance like the rest of your vehicle at certain intervals.
- Tire Rotation: this ensures even wear on all your tires which helps them wear down slower and last longer. During a rotation appointment, each tire and wheel is removed from your vehicle and moved to a different position. Your tires should be rotated every six months or 10,000 to 13,000 kilometres.
- Tire Balance and Alignment: this improves handling, reduces vibration, and also prevents uneven wear. You should have your tires balanced every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometres, or according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
During these appointments, your service team will always inspect for signs of damage, tears or holes and will help you address them immediately.
Need Help With Your Car Tires?
Whether you need to buy new tires for your vehicle, need your old tires swapped out or need to book an appointment for regular tire care (alignment or balance), our team at Woodbine Nissan can help you.
We have a dedicated tire team that specializes in finding the right tire for your specific vehicle and daily driving needs. They also know the ins and outs of tire care and can help you get the most out of your new set of tires.
Our Etobicoke Car Service Centre also offers an Express Service option if you need to get in and out quickly. You can book an appointment online here or call our team at (416) 748-2900 to get expert advice over the phone.
Our service team is known for delivering exceptional service. With over 1,500 Google Reviews, our customers continue to come back to us because we treat them and their vehicles with extra care. This is what one of our customers had to say:
“After having a few issues with my truck and not getting it properly diagnosed somewhere else, I decided to give [Woodbine Nissan] a try. Service advisor M. Abalos took great care and guided me on some things to look for and others that needed attention. He also let me know that there was an outstanding recall on this vehicle that I was not aware of and promptly made the appointment for repairs. My truck is running fine now finally. Thanks, Mike again and the guys at the parts department for getting my maintenance items since then.”
We are here to help you with everything from sourcing the right part for your vehicle at an affordable price to new tires and regular vehicle maintenance.