While most people wait for a professional to check their tire pressure, it’s important to inspect your tires and ensure they’re properly inflated regularly. Maintaining proper tire pressure levels will help maximize the tire’s life and, most importantly, avoid a sudden blowout on the road. Underinflated tires:
- Impact the braking distances
- Makes steering more challenging
- Accelerates tread wear
- Impact the vehicle’s fuel efficiency
Modern vehicles allow you to see the pressure level of each tire on the dashboard but be aware that some vehicles only alert you when there is an urgent issue with the pressure level. You’ll want to be proactive and catch these problems before they occur. Since tires lose pressure over time, regardless of your driving habits, it’s always advisable to check levels on a regular basis.
If you don’t have Chevrolet services in Glencoe scheduled before your road trip, we encourage you to set up an appointment a few days beforehand. This allows you ample time to fix any problems without any trip delays. In the meantime, here are some tire maintenance tips and vehicle checkups to do before you hit the road.
Check the tread depth
There are several ways to check your tire tread depth. An easy way to do this is with the penny or quarter test.
- Penny test - Take a penny and make sure Lincoln’s head is upside down and facing you. Insert the penny into the tire’s tread groove. If all of Lincoln’s head is visible, this means that your tire tread depth is less than 2/32 inches and it’s time to replace them.
- Quarter test - Take a quarter and make sure Washington’s head is upside down. Insert the quarter into the tread groove. You’ll know that you have at least 4/32 inches of tread left if the tread touches Washington’s head.
Schedule a tire balance and wheel alignment
Your vehicle’s tire balance and wheel alignment impact its performance and your driving experience, especially when travelling long distances. As the tread wears down, an imbalance is caused by uneven weight distribution around the tire. Tire balancing adjusts this weight distribution and provides a smoother ride.
A wheel alignment is recommended every year to avoid uneven tread wear. Your vehicle’s tires can be knocked out of alignment due to potholes or a car accident. Without proper wheel alignment, you might notice your car veering to the side even when the steering wheel is straight. This affects your driving comfort and should always be fixed before a road trip.
Rotate tires regularly
Tires are rotated regularly to ensure even tire wear for balanced handling. For example, a front-wheel-drive vehicle typically leads to more wear on the rear tires. Rotating the tires maximizes the life of each tire, so you get the most out of the value you paid.
Change your tires according to the season
Now that the warmer weather is upon us, your vehicle should be on summer tires. Winter tires have soft rubber compounds that are designed for winter use. When they’re exposed to hot roads during the summer, winter tires will wear down faster, which means a costly replacement come wintertime.
Vehicle maintenance checks before a road trip
Along with the above tire maintenance tips, be sure to complete the following maintenance checks before your trip:
- Get an oil change
- Replenish fluids
- Check all lights and replace any that are burnt out
- Inspect the brakes
- Test your battery
For your peace of mind, schedule a Chevrolet service in Glencoe, and we will make sure you and your passengers are safe on your journey.
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