A new set of tires is expensive. Here are a few ways to ensure your tires last long without compromising your safety.

Regular tire rotations

Tires suffer from wear when they are used. This happens because of the friction between the tire and the surface of the road. To ensure there are no abnormal wear patterns and to make them last as long as they safely can, rotate your tires every 6,000 miles or so. Usually, auto and tire manufacturers recommend the tire rotation intervals. A simple option would be to get your tires rotated, balanced, and aligned every time you change the engine oil.

Check and adjust the pressure

Check the tire pressure at least once a month. The ideal tire pressure will be set by the auto manufacturer based on the car’s weight, weight distribution, suspension, and steering design. There will be a sticker or placard stating the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle in the driver’s side door jamb. If the tire pressure is even slightly lower than recommended, they will wear out much faster than normal while reducing the fuel efficiency of the car. If the pressure is somewhat higher than recommended, the center of the tire will wear out fast, and your stopping distance will increase significantly due to a smaller contact patch with the road. The ride quality will also suffer, and you will hear excessive road noise too.

Regular wheel alignment

Road surfaces are never totally smooth. They have speed bumps, potholes, road breaks, and curbs. One impact with the curb or a big pothole could throw the wheel alignment out. This will then cause excessive tire wear. You may not even realize that the alignment is off, and the car may not even pull to one side. But it will affect tire life, ride quality, safety, and fuel efficiency. You may also experience vibrations at higher speeds. Remember to get the wheels aligned every six months when you get the tires rotated and the wheels balanced.

Keeping these simple things in mind and putting them to practice will extend the usable life of your tires. It will also optimize the ride quality and fuel-efficiency, making you a happy driver.