Whether you’re a proud owner of a new vehicle or thinking about replacing your current tires, making your sure they last longer is a prime concern – not only to save money but to make sure you remain safe on the road. A new set of tires typically lasts 5 to 7 years, or at least a minimum of 50,000 miles, depending on how you use your tires and the brand quality.
Factors that Affect Tire Durability
Much like your car’s engine and your brakes, tires can be worn down with constant use, if not more so, since they receive the most impact. Here are the top 5 things that affect your tire’s longevity:
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How smooth you drive
If you are an aggressive driver, your tires will definitely all the more suffer for it. Any fast stops or turns, with speeding, heats up rubber, causing it to wear down easily. Pro tip: if there’s no emergency, do gentler braking, smoother gear changes, and couple it with friendly acceleration to take it easy on your wheels.
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Where you drive
Unless you’re driving through rough terrain in a jungle with no choice in the matter, driving through potholes or uneven paths is not recommended. Always opt for a smoother route so your tires don’t get that stressed.
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Tire Inflation
This is part of proper care as inflation also safeguards you. Underinflating can blow your tires and cause accidents. The correct inflation numbers can be found on your new set of wheels (the side panel, or at the center pillar of the car), so make sure to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Pro tip: have your wheels checked once a month so that you don’t lose any precious air as a tire that begins deflating will continue so and will go on unnoticed until you do something. Experts suggest keeping a minimum of 30psi pressure for aftermarket tires. You can check your wheels when they are cold, not hot.
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Proper or Improper Tire Alignment
Tire alignment or adjusting the vehicle suspension to correctly angle your tires so that they make contact with the road in the right way – is done when new tires are installed. For old tires, this can be performed once a year or every three years. If you’re feeling antsy, you can also do this whenever alignment shows signs of being askew.
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Your Tire’s Tread Wear
Rubber understandably wears thin over time. Have your tire’s tread wear checked once a year so that you can prevent unsafe depth levels or uneven wear. This also tells you how safe your tires still are. Pro tip: use a penny to check your tire tread depth by inserting one in your tire’s groove.
If you can see the top of the coin figures head (the person on the coin is upside down), it means its time to get new tires. The official safe tire tread depth is 2/32 inch from the groove. You can also use the tire tread depth indicators on the sides of your wheels. If the top of your tire has touched the tip of the indicator, its time to get new tires.
Proper Tire Care to Make Yours Last Longer (Or At Least Meet Product Guarantees)
Tires are incredibly robust with government test safety ratings to ensure that they serve you well and last a few years. The key to keeping the product guarantee has always been proper driving and the right tire maintenance. Here are 10 tips to keep your tires happy:
1. Do inflation checks.
Have your tires properly inflated at least once a month to avoid any problems. You can’t always visibly check for inflation, especially with low profile tires.
2. Don’t wash wheels when brakes are hot.
Washing your tires in this temperature will ruin your wheels’ paint job.
3. Only use car-approved cleaning agents for wheel finishes.
Don’t use powdered laundry soap as they can turn tires white. Use car shampoo instead.
4. Do wheel alignment regularly.
Visually check your tire wear from opposite sites. Misaligned tires cut its life shelf in half.
5. Do a wheel balancing check.
If you notice your steering wheel wiggling, it means it’s time to get your wheels balanced at the shop.
6. Get the correct tire size.
It would be best to get your car manufacturer’s initial tire size recommendations, and not consult unofficial online sources like forums.
7. Use a tire black.
Use a silicone-based product instead of one that’s petroleum-based so you don’t ruin your tires.
8. Get tires replaced at the right time, or promptly when needed.
You can see your tire’s “expiration date” on the side wall for better reference. But it pays to check for sidewall or tread cracking so you can also replace wheels promptly to avoid any untoward incidents.
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If you can afford it, stick with branded tires to get the latest in safety standards.
Branded tires often meet international safety standards while generic tire companies are more lenient when meeting the same standards. It’s better not to scrimp on safety.
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Do the correct inflation – don’t underinflate or overdo it.
Under Inflating can cause accidents while overinflating can also be unsafe as it makes your car feel bouncy while driving.
Conclusion
How long your tires will last depends on how much you know about tires– so shop for the best kind of tires that you can possibly get with your budget. Have your tires meet the strictest international safety standards. Go for tires with good tire treadwear ratings above 200 at the least. Learn how to visibly check your tires treadwear and be sensitive to your car while driving. If the steering wheel is wiggly or your car feeling like its bouncing while on the road, something is definitely up.
Lastly, how you drive affects your tire’s performance. Aggressive driving may have its place, but in the long run, it will cost you a lot more money replacing tires every so often.
