Taking care of your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s tires and wheels is just as important as taking care of the rest of the automobile. Trinity Auto Care can help. We are a full-service auto shop in Blaine and White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and we work on tires. Let’s talk about tire maintenance below and the services your wheels need, as well. You’ll find that when you have tires and wheels that are in excellent shape, it’s much easier to control your automobile.
Air Pressure Check
One of the best things you can do for your tires is to check their air pressure regularly. A good rule of thumb is every other week or, at a maximum, once a month. All four tires and your spare should have the recommended air pressure or PSI in them. If any of them are low, add air to the tire(s) until it reaches the correct PSI. Do not add extra air, however, as this will damage the tire(s).
Tire Inspection
While you are checking the air pressure, inspect the tires. Look at the sidewalls to make certain none of the tires have bubbles or cracks on the sides. Also, inspect the tread on each tire to ensure it is wearing down evenly. Signs of uneven tire tread wear include wear going down either shoulder of the tire or scalloped patches of wear. This can significantly reduce the miles you’ll get out of your tires.
Tire Rotation
The tires are saddled with different pressure points from the wheels they are installed on and the brake system parts. These pressure points can wear down the tire tread unevenly. As such, it’s important to have the tires rotated regularly to change the pressure points on each tire. The tire manufacturer gives the recommendation for rotations depending on the brand and tire type. Generally, they should be switched every six months or 6,000 miles.
Wheel Balance
Another thing that can create uneven tread wear on each tire is out-of-balance wheels. When your wheels are balanced, their weight is even across your vehicle’s axles. If the wheels are not balanced, you end up with uneven weight across the axles and severe vibration at higher speeds.
Wheel Alignment
Finally, plan to have the wheels aligned on your automobile every two years. This is the longest you should go between alignments. Signs your wheels are not aligned include a crooked steering wheel and an inability to keep your automobile headed straight without side-pulling.
Trinity Auto Care has two auto shop locations in Minnesota; one in Blaine and one in White Bear Lake. Call the shop closest to you for more information on our tire services.