Interested in Some Easy Tire Service Tips?
Every time you take your car out on the road, your tires become a little more worn. This doesn’t mean you are a bad driver, it’s just the nature of tires. They are the only part of your car that actually touches the road. Thus, it’s important that you take good care of them with regular tire service.
If you have a tire blow out or a tire that goes flat while you’re driving, especially at a high speed, the result could be catastrophic! You may be stranded in the middle of nowhere, or even worse, be the cause of an accident. The time to take care of any needed repairs is before something goes wrong!
To make sure your tires are in as good condition as possible, here are four easy tire service tips that you can do yourself:
- Check tread depth – The tread on your tires should not fall below 1/16 of an inch (1.6 millimeters)—double that if you regularly drive on wet slick roads. You can see how much tread depth you have left by inserting a penny into the tread (head down). If Abe’s entire head remains visible, you don't have enough tread to drive safely. Newer tires now have built-in tread-wear indicator—flat rubber bars that run perpendicular to the direction of the tread. It’s time to purchase new tires if you see these bars begin to appear on any of your tires.
- Check for cracks or cuts in the sidewall – Crack or cuts may indicate air is leaking out of the tire and your tire is losing pressure. If the cracks look very serious, schedule a tire service as soon as possible.
- Check for bulges and blisters in the rubber – When the outer surface of the tire begins to wear out, bulges and blisters can show up, weak spots that are susceptible to a blowout.
- Feeling excessive vibration – If you are an experienced driver, you know how much vibration is normal and when it is too much. More than normal vibration is typically a sign of problems so schedule a tire service to check for unbalanced tires, worn-out shock absorbers, or misalignment problems.
Don’t endanger yourself, your passengers, and other motorists with a flat tire or blow-out on the highway. Keep up with regular tire service and replace tires as needed.
Wondering how often should you replace your tires? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about regular tire service and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
Every time you take your car out on the road, your tires become a little more worn. This doesn’t mean you are a bad driver, it’s just the nature of tires. They are the only part of your car that actually touches the road. Thus, it’s important that you take good care of them with regular tire service.
If you have a tire blow out or a tire that goes flat while you’re driving, especially at a high speed, the result could be catastrophic! You may be stranded in the middle of nowhere, or even worse, be the cause of an accident. The time to take care of any needed repairs is before something goes wrong!
To make sure your tires are in as good condition as possible, here are four easy tire service tips that you can do yourself:
- Check tread depth – The tread on your tires should not fall below 1/16 of an inch (1.6 millimeters)—double that if you regularly drive on wet slick roads. You can see how much tread depth you have left by inserting a penny into the tread (head down). If Abe’s entire head remains visible, you don't have enough tread to drive safely. Newer tires now have built-in tread-wear indicator—flat rubber bars that run perpendicular to the direction of the tread. It’s time to purchase new tires if you see these bars begin to appear on any of your tires.
- Check for cracks or cuts in the sidewall – Crack or cuts may indicate air is leaking out of the tire and your tire is losing pressure. If the cracks look very serious, schedule a tire service as soon as possible.
- Check for bulges and blisters in the rubber – When the outer surface of the tire begins to wear out, bulges and blisters can show up, weak spots that are susceptible to a blowout.
- Feeling excessive vibration – If you are an experienced driver, you know how much vibration is normal and when it is too much. More than normal vibration is typically a sign of problems so schedule a tire service to check for unbalanced tires, worn-out shock absorbers, or misalignment problems.
Don’t endanger yourself, your passengers, and other motorists with a flat tire or blow-out on the highway. Keep up with regular tire service and replace tires as needed.
Wondering how often should you replace your tires? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about regular tire service and to schedule an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.
