The only part of your car to touch the road is your tires. They take all of the pressure as you fly down I-25 on your way to work. Or navigate slick, rain-filled neighborhood roads. Or climb into the hills as the temperatures inch toward 100.
If something happens to your tires, it puts you and your car in jeopardy. They are your first line of defense when it comes to safety and performance. Regular tire checks can help prevent dangerous situations and save you a lot of money over the life of your car.
This is why it matters.
Why Tire Maintenance Should Be a Priority
Have you lived in Colorado long? You know our driving conditions are no joke. We deal with extreme heat, frigid cold, heavy snow, and steep elevation changes, all of which put stress on your tires.
For some, regular tire checks might seem synonymous with looking for flats. But regular tire checks are about more than just avoiding flats. They help you:
- Drive safer by ensuring proper traction and handling
- Extend tire lifespan by preventing uneven wear
- Improve fuel efficiency with optimal inflation
- Avoid costly repairs or replacements caused by neglect
When you check your tires regularly, you’re taking one of the simplest and most effective steps to protect your vehicle, and your wallet.
What Does a Regular Tire Check Include?
So what does “checking your tires” really mean? It’s more than a quick glance as you climb in your car and head off to work. This is what should be on your checklist:
Tire Pressure
Tires lose pressure over time, especially with changes in temperature. In Colorado, where it’s not unusual to swing 30 or 40 degrees or more in a day, tire pressure can fluctuate quickly.
Underinflated tires can cause poor gas mileage, sluggish handling, and even tire blowouts. Overinflated tires can lead to uneven wear and a harsher ride.
Use a tire gauge once a month to ensure your tires are properly filled. Pay attention to your dashboard lights, and react if they flash. Or stop by for a quick check; we’ll check and adjust it for free.
Tread Depth
Tread gives your tires the grip they need on wet, snowy, or icy roads. When tread gets too low, you’re at risk of hydroplaning or losing traction, especially on steep or curved roads in the Denver area.
We suggest using the penny test. Stick a penny in the tread with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see the top of his head, your tread is too low.
Tire Wear Patterns
Tires will only last for so long. While manufacturers suggest how much mileage your tires will provide, it’s still a good idea to pay attention over time. Look at how your tires are wearing. Uneven wear can signal problems like:
- Misalignment
- Suspension issues
- Unbalanced tires
- Driving habits like hard braking or cornering
Catching irregular wear early can help you avoid bigger, costlier repairs. This will shorten the suggested mileage. And avoiding it is easy: simply do a visual check monthly or at every oil change.
Tire Rotation
Front and rear tires wear differently. Regular rotation helps ensure they wear evenly, so you get the full life out of every tire.
Doing this extends the life of your tires and improves traction and handling. It ensures you get full wear from every set of tires you purchase.
We recommend doing this every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, or during every oil change, as we recommend. It’s a great way to schedule your preventive maintenance and keep your car in great condition.
Alignment and Balancing
Poor alignment can cause your car to pull to one side, reduce fuel economy, and wear out your tires faster. Unbalanced tires can cause vibration and uneven tread.
So many things can alter your car’s alignment: hitting potholes, rough roads, even age. And once off-balance, it impacts your drive and your car’s parts. Alignment and balancing help your tires wear evenly and your ride stay smooth.
We suggest getting your alignment checked annually, or if you notice uneven wear, pulling, or steering wheel vibration.
Denver’s Driving Conditions Make Tire Maintenance Even More Critical
Think about your average week. What type of driving do you do?
We know from experience that driving in Colorado isn’t like cruising through the flatlands of the Midwest. Our roads can be rough, literally and figuratively. With extreme temperature swings, potholes, road salt, and steep elevation changes, your tires go through a lot. They may be affected by:
- Cold weather causes tire pressure to drop, increasing the risk of underinflation.
- Potholes from freeze-thaw cycles can knock your wheels out of alignment or cause internal tire damage.
- Magnesium chloride (used to treat roads) can corrode rims and tire valves.
- Mountain driving increases braking and cornering stress on tires.
That’s why tire safety checks are essential for Denver drivers year-round, not just when something seems off.
How Tire Checks Save You Money
We’ve hinted at it throughout this post. Quite honestly, the biggest reason for preventive maintenance is to avoid risk and larger expenses down the road. Let’s break down the financial benefits of regular tire maintenance:
Longer Tire Life
Tires aren’t cheap. Replacing a full set can cost hundreds of dollars. But by keeping them properly inflated, rotated, and aligned, you’ll get maximum mileage out of every set.
Better Fuel Economy
Underinflated tires can drop your gas mileage by 0.2 percent for every 1 PSI below the recommended level. That might not seem like much, but over a year, it adds up.
Fewer Repairs
Spotting uneven wear can reveal suspension or alignment issues before they damage your tires or cause steering problems. An occasional alignment beats four new tires any day.
Avoiding Tows and Breakdowns
Blowouts and flats often happen at the worst possible times. Regular checks help you avoid those dangerous, expensive surprises.
When to Get a Professional Tire Inspection
Tire inspections start DIY. Ever watched an airplane pilot do a pre-flight check? It doesn’t take much time, but a few minutes looking at the details can alert them to problems. The same applies to you. Those DIY checks are a start. But it’s a good idea to let a professional take a look regularly too. We recommend:
- With every oil change
- Before winter or summer road trips
- If your car pulls to one side
- If you notice a vibration, noise, or unusual wear
In short, if you think you might have a problem, let us look at it too. We offer full tire inspections as part of our routine maintenance services. We’ll check pressure, tread, wear, alignment, and balance, and give you an honest opinion about what needs attention now vs. what can wait.
Let’s Keep You Rolling Smoothly
A little attention to your tires goes a long way. It keeps you safer. It helps you avoid unexpected costs. And it makes driving through Denver’s diverse terrain a whole lot smoother.
So next time you’re thinking about skipping that tire check, think again. It’s one of the fastest, easiest ways to protect your car. And your wallet.
Need a tire safety check in Denver?
Stop by today. No-pressure advice. Honest service. Just the way it should be.