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The Ultimate Car Maintenance Checklist

One of the most important aspects of owning an automobile is to have a regular maintenance schedule. A vehicle that isn't well maintained will eventually begin having problems and then you'll be looking at high repair bills. We aren't car care professionals but we do know the importance of servicing a vehicle so we created this blog to inform others about car maintenance. In this blog, you'll learn about routine maintenance and how often you should inspect various components of your vehicle. Some of the articles on this site focus on brakes, tires, and batteries. You also learn about the fluid levels in your car and how often you should check them. We hope that by reading our blog you'll have the knowledge you need about car maintenance to avoid expensive car repairs.

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The Ultimate Car Maintenance Checklist

Four Steps To Check And Maintain Your Tires

by Guy Mitchell

Properly maintaining your tires is one of the most important things you can do to ensure the safe and efficient operation of your vehicles. Not only are poorly maintained tires dangerous, but they can also reduce your vehicle's performance and fuel economy. Replacing your tires as needed is a crucial part of vehicle ownership, but you shouldn't ignore your tires just because it isn't time to change them. There are several things you can do to ensure that your tires last for as long as possible while providing the grip that you need to stay safe on the road. By following these four steps, you can keep your tires in tip-top shape.

Step 1: Check Your Tire Pressure Routinely

Over- or under-inflated tires will perform poorly, wear unevenly, and reduce your vehicle's overall fuel economy. If your car is not equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, then it is vital to check your tire pressure every few weeks. A good rule of thumb is to check your tire pressure with every other fill-up. For vehicles with pressure monitoring systems, it is still advisable to check at least once per month.

Step 2: Monitor Your Tread Depth

Check your tread depth at least once every few months. The easiest way to determine the life of your treads is to use the penny trick: stick an upside-down penny into the tread and try to see the top of Lincoln's head. If his head is visible, then it's time to replace your tires. If not, they've still got some life left. Note that you should always check in more than one spot on each tire.

Step 3: Perform Regular Rotations

Rotating your tires helps to ensure that each tire wears evenly. A variety of problems can cause tires to wear excessively on one wheel or one axle, and rotating your tires can help to spread the wear around. More importantly, tire rotations allow you to discover these problems so that you can address the underlying cause. There's generally no such thing as rotating your tires too often, but most people choose to rotate their tires with every other oil change.

Step 4: Don't Ignore Balance Or Alignment Issues

Is your car vibrating at certain speeds or pulling in one direction? If so, you may have a balance or alignment problem. Not only are these issues annoying, but they can also lead to premature or uneven tire wear. Ignoring these problems can cause unusual wear patterns on your tires, ultimately leading to reduced handling characteristics or premature failure.

Remember that your tires are the only thing keeping your car glued to the road. Treat them right so that they can continue to provide you with a safe ride for thousands of miles. Reach out to tire maintenance services to get help today.

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