When you need to buy tires in Columbia CT for your car, truck or SUV, come out to Tire and Brake Clinic. There are three things you need to be aware of when you check the health of your tires: the age of your tires, tread wear, and exposure to the elements. Even in the absence of appreciable tread wear, manufacturers recommend your tires be replaced after 6 years. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for your specific tires. Next, examine your treads for wear. To make sure your tires have a tread depth of at least 4/32 inch, stick a quarter, Washington’s head facing down, into one of the tire-tread grooves. If any part of Washington’s head is obscured, you have at least that amount of tread. Exposure to the heat and to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation may cause structural changes in your tires’ composition. This may not affect us here in northeastern Connecticut’s moderate climate, but it is good to know.
You can keep an eye on the tire pressure and tread wear to prolong the life of a new set of tires. Correct air pressure helps your tires last longer, helps your car handle better and safer, and helps save money on fuel. Your vehicle owner’s manual, the label inside the driver’s door, or possibly a label inside the gas cap, may list your tire manufacturer’s recommended psi for each vehicle. Manufacturer’s recommended psi for tires may be different for the front tires than the rear tires of a vehicle. Rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. This promotes uniform wear, which means consistent performance and longer tire life. Uneven tread wear is a symptom of misalignment. Improperly aligned wheels can create rapid and uneven wear and steering and tracking problems.
At Tire and Brake Clinic, we know tires. We would like to remind our friends in eastern Connecticut that the first defense against crashes are properly maintained tires. If you cannot tell whether your tires are in good shape, come down and have us inspect them for you. Call for more information today at 860-228-0212.