Sue's Car Care Tips

Tire sizes have increased over the last decade, and with that so has the price. To protect your investment there are a few things you should do to care for your tires.

• Tire Rotations - This is often an overlooked maintenance item. On a front wheel drive vehicle, the front tires tend to wear out faster. More pressure is put on the front tires from the constant turning, accelerating, braking and the weight of the engine. Typically, the front tires wear out and the rears will still have a lot of tread if the rotations are not done regularly. Most manufacturers recommend every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

• Tire pressure – Most tires loose from 1 to 2 lbs each month. Newer vehicles now have a Tire Pressure Monitor system that will alert you when the tire(s) are low. If any tires are below the recommend amount of pressure, that will cause the TPMS light to turn on. Always follow the air pressure that is on the door jam or tire placard on your vehicle. If the tires are overinflated, it will cause the tires to wear out in the middle, underinflated will cause them to wear on the shoulder. Be sure to check your tires when they are cold overnight or at least after sitting for a few hours.

• Wheel Alignments – This should be checked every 12,000 miles or when tires are installed. Tires will wear unevenly if the vehicle is out of alignment.

• Struts and Shocks – When these components are worn, they will put added stress on the tires. One of their functions is to keep the tires firmly on the road. Worn struts and shocks will cause the tires to wear unevenly, appearing in a cupping or choppy pattern.

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