Regular car maintenance is essential to keeping both your car and your wallet happy. Tires take a lot of impact from driving long commutes, going over potholes, and even just turning left and right. Learning about your tires, such as how to recognize tire wear and when to get them rotated and balanced, will extend your tire life and save you money down the road.
Tire Wear and Tear
When you look at your tires, do you know how to recognize the signs of wear and tear? Whether you do a visual inspection or experience something unusual while driving, it’s always best to have your tires inspected by a professional. Signs can include (but are not limited to):
- Too much air pressure in your tire or over inflation.
- Too little air pressure or under inflation.
- Wear on your tire tread on the edge of your tire.
- Vibrations while driving could be a sign to get your tires re-aligned.
- A feeling of your car drifting to one side while driving can be a side of tire damage.
You can (and should) inspect your tires’ tread conditions by doing the quarter test. This will tell you if your tires are okay for continued use, or a sign that they need to be replaced.
Tire Rotation, Balance and Wheel Alignment
Knowing when to get your tires rotated and balanced is beneficial since tires are the only part of the car that makes direct contact with the road. If you are about to go on a road trip, make sure you get your tires inspected!
Our recommendations for regular tire maintenance are:
- Tire rotation: Every 5,000 to 6,000 miles to get optimum lifespan and performance.
- Tire balancing: Every 12,000 to 15,000 miles depending on your vehicle’s weight, driving conditions, and driving quality.
- Wheel alignment: This depends on your driving habits and road conditions. However, it’s recommended to get an alignment one a year, or every 15,000 miles as average suspension wear can change the ride height of the vehicle which will ultimately change the camber and/or toe, resulting in uneven tire wear. It’s also common to get a wheel alignment when new tires are installed.
At Dillon’s Automotive, we do NOT charge to inspect the alignment. In the case that your vehicle does need to be adjusted, the cost ranges from $79.95 for most vehicles and $139.95 for most European models.
Our team members are ASE trained and certified, and authorized to service most extended warranties. As a family owned business, we not only care about your car, we care about you. Call us at (281) 395-1100 or request an appointment online with us today!
