Maintaining Tires for Wet Weather

Fall is here, and you know what that means! The rain is soon to follow! Staying safe during our rainy season comes down to having the right parts. That’s right, we’re talking tires!

Did you know that properly maintaining your tires can not only keep you safe, it can also save you money? Proper inflation can help you extend the life of your tires by allowing them to wear properly. It can also help save you gas money. Tires that are under inflated have higher rolling resistance which leads to you using more gas to get your car moving.

Save money and stay safe on the roads by following these 3 simple steps!

Proper Tires

Let’s start with the foundation: finding the right tires. We recommend getting all-seasons or tires that are specially made for wet weather. These are manufactured to allow you to have as much traction as possible, even in the rain.

Inspect often

Since you can’t run on brand new tires all the time, it’s important to inspect them regularly to make sure they’re performing optimally. Here are some things you should check at least once a month.

• Check the air pressure. Your recommended air pressure is located in your owner’s manual or in the driver’s door jam. Make sure not to over or under inflate your tires.
• Check the tread depth you have remaining. The grooves in the treads help funnel water from under the tire and allow you to stop and control your car better. The easiest way to do this is to place a penny within your treads. If the tread covers President Lincoln’s head, you’re ok. If you can see all of his head, it’s time for new tires.
• Check your tires for damage. You’d be amazed at some of the things we’ve seen stuck in people’s tires! If you find signs of damage, change out the tire for the spare and head to your local tire repair center.

Regular Maintenance

Your local auto and tire repair center can help you keep on top of your tires. Here are a few ways we can help.

• Rotate every 5000 miles. Your tires wear differently based on their location on your vehicle. To help them wear more evenly, make sure you get them rotated often.
• Replace them when it’s time to. The average tire can last about 50,000 miles if it’s driven regularly. If you don’t drive your car often, your tires can dry out and rot. Often times, this damage isn’t visible from the outside, so if you think your tires are more than 6 years old, have them inspected or replaced.

Have tire questions? Stop by your local auto repair specialist to make sure you’re prepared for the rainy weather ahead!