Proper Tire Care - Where the Rubber Meets the Road (Part 2)

  

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Guest Blog by Colin Wells, Bentley Service Technician at British Motor Car Distributors

PART 2 (OF 2): HOW TO CHECK YOUR TIRES AND WHEN

Checking your tires is much simpler than it seems.  The trick is to get on schedule and sticking to it. I like to check my tires at the gas station.  I check the fluid levels and tire pressures Saturday mornings when I gas up (my wife once went seven years without gassing up or checking any part of the car other than the interior when she was driving).  I fill up in the morning before I start driving for the day, so the tires are still cold.  If they’re low, I can use the air pump at the station. In California, air is free if you purchase fuel, so there is no reason not to take advantage of it.  I recommend that you not trust the gauge on the air hose, however. You never know what it’s been through.  Please, purchase a good quality tire pressure gauge and keep it in the car.  They are widely available, and we carry them at our Parts Department as well.  You can use a good old fashioned gauge or buy a simple to use and read digital gauge.  For modern cars, I prefer the digital ones because they are more accurate (which is important when using it on a car with a highly sensitive tire pressure monitoring system).

Image: www.bentleymotors.com

After you check the tire pressure, take a quick look at the tires.  Do you see cracks or areas where the tread pattern is not evenly worn?  If not, you’re good to go.  If you do, please have your tires checked by a professional, for your safety and the well-being of your vehicle.

Regular checks of your tires can save you time, money and headaches.  It will also extend the life and safety of your tires.  In addition to these regular checks you can do yourself, you should also have your tires balanced and aligned as recommended by the manufacturer.

A few words on driving during the hot months of the year:  Summer typically means lots of driving and going on long road trips for many of us.  But heat, overloading and loss of tire pressure make tires more prone to damage in the summer.  So before taking off on a road trip, be sure to check your tire pressure and condition.  Don’t overload your vehicle, and avoid excessive speed to prevent tire damage.  Enjoy your travels!