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GETTING GOOD MILEAGE FROM YOUR TIRES
by Ray Granders
http://www.danatires.com
We don't think too much of our tires until something goes
wrong with them. However, taking good care of our tires,
will allow us the maximum use from them. Keeping the air
pressure at the makers recommendations is very important.
Depending on where you live, your tires can loose about
one to two pound of air a month. If you live in cooler
climates, it could be less, in hot and humid temps, it
could be more. Not maintaining your air pressure in your
tires can get you poor gas mileage and worse, cause a blow
out while your traveling at a high rate of speed.
Checking your air pressure about once a month is
recommended, older tires, maybe twice a month. First you
need a tire gauge, which you can get just about anywhere
with an automotive dept. and their very inexpensive. It's
a tube shape about six inches long with a stick inside that
pops out when you press it onto the stem on your tire and
tells you how much air is in the tire. If your tire is
supposed to have 32-24 PSI (pounds per square inch) of air,
and the tire gauge reads 28, then you need to put some air
into your tires.
Another important aspect of car tires is the alignment.
Chances are you have hit a pothole or two while driving.
Each time, you put the car at risk of going out of
alignment, even a small amount. However, enough potholes
or curbs would make a difference in how the car handles.
Therefore, about every 18,000 miles, the alignment of the
car should be checked, which is about the same time you put
on new tires. Of course, if you notice that one tire or
one side of the car has tires that are wearing down quicker
than the other tires this could indicate a problem with
alignment.
Slow leaks can occur in tires at anytime. They can pick
up an unknown nail and then come out making the tire's
air leak out slowly. Or you may find a bubble on the side-
wall of a tire, if you see this take it to your tire shop
immediately because this can become a serious problem. A
weak tire leak may be fixed by a can of fix a flat at your
local auto parts dealer. If not, the you will need to have
it checked out. Tires put on wrong at the shop can cause a
vibration within your car when you get to a certain speed.
If this occurs, take your car back immediately and have
them fix and balance your tires properly.
Finally, to help the life of your tires last longer, you
should have them rotated about every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
The reason is that typically, one tire will begin to wear
out in a certain pattern, depending on the weight it is
supporting. Therefore, by rotating the tires, you are not
stressing one particular tire but allowing them to wear
more evenly. In addition to the money saved, this also
reduces risks when driving.
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