The Importance of Tire Maintenance

We as humans have had a long love affair with the world of automobiles. This relationship goes back to the fantastic horseless carriage’s initial days, spanning across multiple generations and incarnations of various cars, trucks, and other mechanical transportation modes. Nowadays, vehicles are as crucial to our lives as they’ve ever been, giving us the freedom and mobility we require to live our day-to-day lives along with a greater sense of security for most people living in the US. Despite this binding admiration for vehicles, many Americans remain woeful and often dangerously unaware of the importance of tire maintenance for their cars. American trucks and cars see a great deal of action every year.

The total amount of driving then by American citizens has been on the rise with each passing decade, making it even more crucial than ever to learn how to maintain their tires properly. Nevertheless, studies indicate that Americans still fail to address this necessary maintenance need. The research done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) suggests that tires are partially responsible for almost 11,000 traffic crashes every year.

What’s worse is that their numbers also indicate that nearly 200 people died in those accidents. This means that roughly 200 deaths per year can be prevented by just paying a little more attention to the basic importance of tire maintenance.

Moreover, there is also a financial cost to all this. According to the Car Care Council, the lack of overall vehicle maintenance is the main reason why thousands of automobile accidents happen each year. Together, these accidents can result in damages that exceed more than $2 billion annually. Keeping the estimates on tire-related accidents in mind, it is clear that a hefty portion of those damages can be prevented by doing adequate tire maintenance.

Underinflated tires are a problem.

Even though the importance of tire maintenance may bring thoughts of tire wear and other damages to mind, it goes way beyond those concerns. Even the most seemingly minor issues such as basic tire inflation can greatly impact the risk to the lives of the driver and passengers. For example, research estimates that almost a quarter of a million accidents each year involve trucks and cars with lower tire pressure.

Low pressure can affect everything from breaking and traction to how your vehicle handles on the road. Recent studies by the agency also revealed a direct relation between underinflated tires and the increased risk of accidents around the country. By the NHTSA’s estimate, if your vehicle gets deflated to less than 75% of its operational air, you are going to be three times more likely to be in a car crash as compared to when your tires are fully inflated.

What most drivers don’t understand the importance of tire maintenance

The main problem seems to lie in the area of driver knowledge. Numerous studies have revealed that drivers really don’t seem to know much about the importance of tire maintenance.

Considering the alarming facts that the survey indicates, 85% of drivers claim not to know how to inflate their tires or admit that they are unsure of the proper pressure in their vehicle’s tire. Here are some vital things you need to consider: The amount of time required to check your tire’s air pressure is not more than 10 seconds every day or five minutes each month. These five minutes can save almost $0.12 on each gallon of fuel since your vehicle’s ideal tire inflation is one of the easiest ways you can enhance its fuel efficiency and the best way to understand the importance of tire maintenance.

Caring for your tires

Given the fact that most Americans are not sure how the importance of tire maintenance should be maintained, the chances are that you may have a few questions yourself. However, the good news for you is that there are a few standard things you need to look for and some easy maintenance steps that you need to take to make sure that your vehicle’s tires remain safe, functional, and legally eligible for the road.

• Wheel alignment: you should always get your wheel alignment checked by a professional every year or whenever you feel like your vehicle’s alignment may be off. For example, if you notice that your car is pulling to a particular side, the chances are that your wheels may be misaligned.
• Tire rotation: the owner’s manual of your car will offer you some guidance about the recommended schedule for tire rotations, and you need to follow those instructions carefully. Regular tire rotations can help you protect your vehicle’s tire from irregular wear and tear, along with improving its longevity.
• Monitor wear and tear: as the vehicle owner, you need to keep an eye out for treadwear since any damage to your tire’s treads causes hydroplaning and various other issues.
• Keep your tires inflated: you must use a tire pressure gauge to make sure that your tires are adequately inflated. Inflation is crucial for proper road grip, braking, and vehicle handling.

One quick way to test your tires is by using a penny to measure your overall wear. Take a penny and insert it into your tire’s tread. If your vehicle’s tires are worn to the point where you can see any part of Lincoln’s head, you need to start thinking about the importance of tire maintenance. Get in touch with Express Auto & Tires today!

Do you feel like your tires may need some attention? Are you in need of a good mechanic in Irving, TX? If you are looking for a professional who specializes in auto repairs and can handle all types of projects, big and small, your search ends here. At Express Auto & Tires, our team of mechanics can professionally fix any vehicle that requires servicing, provide you with a thorough diagnostic, the importance of tire maintenance, and diligently execute a repair to give you the best results possible.

Give us a call at 972-636-4903 or contact us online to book your auto service appointment today.