How to Make Your Tires Last Longer

Replacing your car’s tires is a big expense, so it’s no surprise that most Tifton drivers only want to do it when absolutely necessary. Fortunately, learning how to make your tires last longer is simple—and there’s actually a lot you can do to extend the life of your tires significantly! Find out how you can boost the chance of long life for tires in this guide from Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any further questions about routine maintenance for your make and model.

What Causes Tire Tread Wear? 

Whether you drive a RAM 1500 pickup or a Dodge Charger, the pattern of wear on your tire treads can tell you a lot about any issues that may be troubling your vehicle:

• Inner & Outer Tread Wear: Also referred to as “camber wear” or “toe wear,” excess wear on the inner or outer part of the tire often indicates tire misalignment. 
• Center Wear: If the center of the tire is more worn than any other area, it is probably over-inflated. You can find the correct PSI in your owner’s manual.
• Edge Wear: When tread wear is primarily on the edges of the tire, the tires are most likely underinflated.
• Cupping Wear: A pattern of diagonal scalloping of the tire tread is known as cupping. This warns you that your car could have a serious issue with its suspension system, so schedule a service appointment ASAP.
• Patchy Wear: If the tread wear on your tires is showing up in patches, your wheels may need rebalancing.

How to Ensure Long Life for Tires

The easiest way to make your tires last longer is simply to follow your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule. Those visits will include the following services:

• Check Your Tire Pressure Monthly – Tires can lose air pressure very quickly—up to a pound per square inch each month. Keep an eye on your Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and remember that tires tend to lose more pressure in the winter and gain it in the summer. 
• Rotate Your Tires Every 5,000 Miles – All tires don’t wear the same way, especially if your car has AWD. Rotating the tires evens out the wear across all four tires, helping them to last longer.
• Get Your Tires Balanced – Unbalanced tires won’t wear evenly, either. It’s a good idea to have your tires balanced following a rotation.
• Check the Vehicle Alignment Twice Yearly – Misaligned tires will also wear more quickly than they should. A shaking steering wheel is a common indicator of this problem.

Schedule Tire Service at Albany Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM

Feel free to contact our service department for more tips on how to make your tires last longer and how to keep your car performing at its peak. For more car-care advice, check out our guide to oil change frequency. Our service center is easy to reach from anywhere in Cordele and Valdosta, so go ahead and schedule your next service today!