In fact, some would even say that tire maintenance and tire safety are the frontline of defense for keeping you on the highway at Texan speeds.

That said, it’s important you get to know the regulation of the state before you get to know the tire safety checks. This is because they can sometimes vary from state to state (even down to the 32 nd of an inch in tread depth!).

For one, all tires must have a tread depth of at least 2/32 of an inch. It also needs full rubber traction extending above the flange (that’s motor talk for the rim) as well as no visible cracks, bulges or blocks.

So, here are our 6 tips for tire maintenance to help your tires last a million more rotations:

1. Check Your Wheel Alignment Bad wheel alignment can cause your tires to be wearing against the road in all different directions. Which causes them to wear faster and reduce the overall tire safety. And, even if they’re aligned one day, they may not be the next!

In fact, running over a deep pothole can throw your car out of alignment. So, it needs a regular check-up on the camber, toe and caster.

To find out more, have a look at our other article “Auto Repair Alignments and Suspension: What You Should Know”.

2. Make Sure the Tread Depth is in the Limit Here in Texas, the legal requirements of tread depth (i.e., the slits and grooves in the tire) is to have at least 2/32 nd of an inch. This is something you can check with a gauge or even a quarter (just make sure you can’t see Washington’s head!).

In fact, all across the US, tire maintenance requires a look at the tread depth using the 32 nd of an inch gauge. The importance being that shallow depth increases your stopping distance and the chance of a serious crash, especially at 80MPH speeds.

3. Rotate Your Tires Around Tires wear around the car at different speeds. After all, weight distribution can often change between trucks, cars and all sorts of autos on the road. Many of them have a The Importance of Tire Maintenance for Your Daily Drive

40/60 weight distribution that’s heavier on the back. This accounts for weight changes when breaking where the weight transfers to the front of the vehicle.

So, the tires often wear first on the front tires and a quick rotation will help make sure the wear goes down at the same time and your tire safety remains a top priority on the drive!

4. Balance Your Tires for Even Wear

Just like how the alignment of the axle and the natural weight distribution can affect the wear of your tires, so can the balance. And, while they may all sound the same, they’re quite different.

Wheel alignment is all about how the tires sit on the axel while wheel balancing is about tire maintenance on the weight distribution.

Your auto shop should balance your tires when they’re fitted, but it never hurts to have them checked. You’ll know they’re out of whack if you feel vibrations in the wheel and you’ll be getting bad fuel economy.

5. Use a Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Also known in the industry as a TPMS or TPWS (tire pressure warning system), they can be a small and handy gadget you keep in your trunk or even an internally installed device that lights up on your dash when your tire pressure is low.

Here in Texas, regulations state tire safety pressure needs to remain at the optimal cold inflation pressure (specified by your car’s manufacturer). Otherwise, it causes more friction on the road, leading to overheating and blown tires.

6. Have a Set of Winter Tires

Tire maintenance doesn’t only look at how you can keep one set of tires on your vehicle for a long period. Instead, it involves swapping and changing the tires around to fit the season and keep tire safety at a maximum for yourself.

Winter tires have extra slits, deeper tread and specialty pliable rubber that helps grip the ice (but can melt in the Summer). So, in the Winter, Winter tires last longer and for the other seasons, Summer tires will do the job!

And that wraps up our 6 tips for tire maintenance for year-round care.

If you want to be sure your tire maintenance is up to specification here in Texas, call the team on (972) 242-0092. Here at Dealership Autoplex Collision Center, we’re always here to lend a helping hand, especially when it comes to tire safety. The Importance of Tire Maintenance for Your Daily Drive

Alternatively, you can always take a look at our website to see our full range of services and opening times so you can drive those tires right into the shop here in Carrollton, TX