Tire maintenance
Regular tire maintenance is essential for getting the most out of your tire investment.
Regular tire maintenance is essential for getting the most out of your tire investment.
What is a wheel alignment?
Sometimes called a front-end alignment, this adjustment is made to make sure your vehicle tracks straight and true whenever it’s in motion. Proper alignment is a delicate balancing act encompassing power, acceleration, steering, braking and suspension. It involves adjusting the camber (outward or inward tilt of the tires), caster (front or rear tilt), and toe (direction of the tires when viewed from above). It helps ensure that when the wheels are quickly rotating, there’s no unwanted drift from side-to-side or up-and-down vibrations.
Why does my vehicle go out of alignment?
There are many reasons your vehicle may go out of alignment. 1. Potholes and road impact such as hitting a curb. 2. Steering and suspension issues. 3. Wear from aging suspension parts.
How often should I get a wheel alignment?
In general, wheels alignments should be done about every six months or 6,000 miles, whichever comes first. But, if you notice your vehicle unintentionally veering left or right or experiencing odd vibrations, it’s time to get things checked out. Another time to definitely have an alignment is when you’re replacing your tires. Having them properly balanced and aligned when new will help maintain even tread wear from the get-go.
What are the benefits of a wheel alignment?
Wheels that are out of alignment can create excessive, uneven wear on your tires. If a mis-aligned wheel tries to move in a different direction than intended, this works against normal tread wear. It can cause the tread to disappear early and unevenly. Keeping your alignment true helps the treads last longer and helps eliminate any loss of traction that might result from premature tread wear. Not to mention, poor alignment can also negatively affect your suspension and can cause excessive play in the steering wheel. Quite simply, a properly aligned vehicle is a safer vehicle.
What is a tire rotation?
Periodically changing the positions of each tire on your vehicle is better known as a “tire rotation”. Your vehicle and tire manufacturers will have recommendations for how often and in what direction to move the tires.
How often should I get my tires rotated?
The answer to this question can vary depending on the type of tires you have and whether your vehicle is front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. Every 5000 miles, or whenever you go in for an oil change, is a good rule of thumb to follow for when to get your tires rotated.
What are the benefits of a tire rotation?
When your tires are routinely rotated, wear is spread evenly across all four tires, which helps maximize tread life. Each specific position on your vehicle requires something different from each tire. This can lead to more (or less) wear depending on the tire’s position. More even tread wear keeps the tread depth on your tires uniform to help keep handling and traction consistent. This can help deliver improved cornering, braking and overall safety. Regular rotations also lets you or a technician visually inspect the tires for damage. You can also check the air pressure, have them rebalanced if you’re noticing some vibration, even check their tread depth.
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Why do tires become un-balanced?
Tires can become unbalanced in a variety of different ways. Cold temperatures can cause your tires to deflate so much that they can become unbalanced. Another common reason for tire imbalance is the loss of a wheel weight. This happens when you’re driving at high speeds and hit a speed bump, pothole or curb.
Benefits of properly balanced tires
Properly balanced tires help deliver a smooth ride and more even tread wear. This can extend the life of your tires and provide added safety. Over time, tires lose balance, so it’s a good idea to have the service performed every 6 months or 6,000 miles.
Frequently asked questions
Should I replace 2 tires or 4 tires?As a general rule, we recommend replacing all four tires at the same time. However, sometimes you may only need to replace two of your tires. If this is the case, we recommend mounting the new tires on the rear axle. This will add traction and increase the overall safety of your vehicle.
How can I make my money go farther?A first glance, it might seem like the best value tire is the one that costs less. But instead of looking at up-front costs, it might be worth looking at the cost over time. When we break down the cost-per-mile, a higher quality tire might end up being the better value. Not to mention improved ride quality, superior handling and enhanced safety. Depending on your driving habits, spending a bit more now could save you money down the road.
When should I replace my tires?Knowing when to replace your tires boils down to two simple words: safety first. Keeping track of your tread depth and the age of the tire are two important factors in determining if they’re still safe and road-ready.
Your covered with us!
Industry-Leading Tire Protection PlanTireman is ready to repair or replace your tire if it fails due to faulty workmanship or materials, or a non-repairable road hazard. This plan is good until the tire has 3/32 inch tread depth remaining, or 3 years from the date you bought it, whichever comes first. Just pay for it when you purchase the tire.
Tire Installation PackageOur experts don’t just install your tires, we send you on your way with access to more free lifetime services than any of the so-called competition. Free lifetime alignment checks, tire rotations, spin balancing, flat repairs and more will help you get the maximum mileage out of your tires.
Don’t keep your new tires waiting.
Don’t keep your new tires waiting.
We’ll help you find the perfect tires in a few steps.
We’ll help you find the perfect tires in a few steps.
