Driving is one of the most dangerous things we do on a daily basis, and yet, most of us don’t take it as seriously as we should. Even if we are driving a new car, we should still be paying close attention to how it’s driving and how its parts are performing.
For example, brand-new tires should last 50,000 to 60,000 miles before they need to be replaced, but the keyword there is should. From rough terrain to uneven wear, low tire pressure, and running over a nail, your car’s tires can negatively impact your drive, even if they are technically new.
Here are five reasons you always need to pay attention to your car’s tires.
They Make it Safer to Drive in Bad Weather
We can’t wait to get behind the wheel until the sun is shining and there’s a nice breeze. Instead, we have to get in the car during some extreme weather that can include:
- Snow
- Freezing rain
- Hail
- Rain
- Wind
Driving in bad weather conditions can be dangerous, but it is especially dangerous if you’re driving on bad tires. Bald tires don’t have any traction, so when the road becomes wet, it’s much easier to hydroplane, which means your tires skim the water’s surface and you’re no longer able to steer your vehicle.New tires have the proper grooves and channels to provide your tires with traction on wet roads, icy roads, and they even perform better in windy conditions.
They Can Prevent or Encourage a Blowout
One of the scariest things a driver can ever experience on the road is a blowout. Not only can it cause you to lose control of your car and crash into the ditch, it has the potential to cause others to crash around you.
Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent a blowout. One of the easiest is to make sure your tires are properly inflated. With the proper tire inflation, you don’t have to deal with a tire that flexes beyond its limits while it’s spinning on the road. If you suspect that your tire has a slow leak, make sure you get it checked out before you hit the interstate.
They Can Save You Money
Proper inflation is so easy to achieve, and yet it isn’t uncommon for drivers to avoid checking their tire pressure. However, it’s not only important when it comes to preventing blowouts, it can actually save you money.
On average, you can improve your car’s gas mileage by around half a percent, but in some cases, you can increase your car’s gas mileage by as much as three percent just by making sure your tires are properly inflated. That’s because you lose 0.2 percent gas mileage for every one psi drop in your tire pressure.
They Can Provide You With a Smoother Ride
Checking your tires can help you get better gas mileage and it can keep you safer behind the wheel, but your tires can keep you more comfortable too!
Newer tires with the proper traction can greatly affect how you experience your vehicle. They can make turning easier and they can make the ride smoother.
It’s something you may not notice at first. That’s because tires wear progressively, which means the handling of your car changes incrementally. Get your tires checked and replace them if it’s time.You’ll notice a day and night difference in how your car drives.
One Bad Tire Can Ruin the Rest
Think you’re doing just fine if you have three really good tires and one bad one? Think again! Your tires work together to keep your ride safe and smooth, so if one is bad, the rest aren’t far behind.
If one tire has a different tread, if it’s more bald, or if it has significantly less air pressure than the other tires, it can cause your tires to wear more quickly, while affecting your ride at the same time.
If one tire is bad, don’t put off having it replaced. You should also consider replacing at least two tires, even if only one is technically bad. Otherwise, the difference in tread depth, thickness, and other aspects of the new tire will cause your other tires to wear faster!
It’s easy to hop in your car without worrying about your tires, but you really should take a look at them more often. Inspect them for tread depth and make sure they are properly inflated on a regular basis. If you do, you’ll enjoy a smoother, safer, more affordable ride.