5 Tips to Help You Get the Most Mileage Out of Your Tires

Your vehicle is made up of many crucial components that can become quite expensive to maintain and replace. Tires are not exempt from this long list of parts that require your routine attention, otherwise you’re likely to find yourself shelling out big bucks far quicker than you might expect. Your tires are your primary contact with the road and they can also affect how often you fill the tank…another pricey proposition.

To ensure the longest (and safest) ride on your tires, check out these five tips to help you get the most mileage out of them.

1. Do Your Homework

You might be thinking all tires are the same but you would be wrong in that assessment. Before you make a considerable investment in a set of tires, ask about their tread wear rating. This number runs from between 100-700. The higher the number, the higher the grade on the expected life of the tire. But be careful not to compare those numbers across brands as different brands grade their tires differently. So choose a brand you prefer, then start checking out the ratings.

2. Check Your Air

The amount of air in your tires can have a drastic effect on the wear and tear, not to mention the rest of the vehicle as well. Proper air pressure is crucial to getting the most mileage from your tires. Ensure each one is inflated to the recommended vehicle manufacturer specs; over-inflation and under-inflation can both cause undue excess wear on the tire. Improper inflation is also one of the main causes of poor gas mileage. So stay on it, otherwise you’ll be paying more for tires and gas!

3. Rotate the Tires

All four tires are on the road at the same time, yet it’s very possible that the front tires wear out quicker than the back tires, or vice versa. Rotating your tires evens out that wear and tear by moving the front tires to the back and putting the back tires up front. You should do this every 5,000 miles for most tires, but others might need it more often. Making this simple change will go a long way in staying current with your car maintenance to keep you on the road longer.

4. Stay Balanced

You not only need to rotate your tires but you also want to make sure they’re properly balanced. Wheels that are out of balance will also put excess wear on your tires, kill your gas mileage, and affect the handling of the vehicle. How do you know if you need your wheels balanced? You’ll feel it when you’re driving, especially at high speeds. The car will start to shimmy as your speed increases. If you can sense that vibration, time to get the wheels balanced.

5. Drive Safely

Always a smart decision; safe driving will not only cut down on your car insurance premium but it can save you money in the long run. Avoid braking hard, don’t take those corners too fast and peeling out is also a bad idea. The way you drive the car can extend the life of your tires.

We all know there are plenty of things that can go wrong on a vehicle that are entirely out of your control. Do your part where you can!