Keys To Staying Safe
When The Rubber Hits The Road
One of the most common requests at Winkler Automotive is new
tires.
And George Winkler, Owner & Proprietor of Maryland’s
top-rated independent service center, and an AAA approved and ASE Certified
operation (located in Gaithersburg), is always quick to give his customers
proactive tips in order to show up less often in need of new tires.
“Proper tire maintenance is so simple, and significantly
prolongs the life of your tires,” advises Winkler. “Plus it’s just
downright safer to be diligent in caring for your tires.”
Thus, Winkler shares his five tips to keeping your tires in
top top shape:
1 – Check tire pressure
Do this at least once a month and before and after any long
trips. Check your owner’s manual for exact PSI, as it can vary from car to car.
Be sure to use the automaker’s recommended pressure and not the maximum
pressure indicated on the tires. Plus, optimal inflation can improve fuel
economy as much as 5 percent, according to Winkler. And keep a gauge in
your glove-box. You can get them as most dollar stores these days.
2 – Rotate your tires (The Works package includes
rotation – click here for coupon)
Every 6,000 to 8,000 miles is Winkler’s suggestion to his
customers. Every tire will wear differently. On front-wheel-drive cars, the
front wheels wear at almost twice the rate of the rear wheels. Rotating where
the tires sit on the wheel helps achieve more uniform wear, which means
consistent performance and longer tire life. Its an expensive cost, and one
that will save you in the long run.
3 – Examine your treads
Winkler suggests making sure your tires have a tread depth
of at least 4/32 inch (above the legal limit of 2/32-inch). To check
this, stick a quarter, Washington’s head facing down, into one of the
tire-tread grooves. If any part of Washington’s head is obscured, you have at
least that amount of tread.
4 – Align your wheels
Improperly aligned wheels can create rapid and uneven wear,
creating a very unsafe situation. A proper alignment will adjust the
steering and suspension components to manufacturer specifications, making sure
that the wheels are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each
other. And again, another relatively inexpensive procedure – but one
that’s well worth the occasional investment.
5 – Keep the deepest treads in the rear
As Winkler notes to those who may think this is
counter-intuitive, deeper treads grip the road and channel water better, making
the rear of the car less likely to hydroplane and fishtail. The result is that,
while your shabby front tires may result in understeer, it’s easier for a
driver to correct from such a condition than from oversteer resulting from worn
rear tires.
Article Credit: http://www.winklerautomotive.com
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