Tire-Related Mistakes To Avoid Making
The average driver likely doesn't spend too much time thinking about the tires on his or her vehicle, but giving careful consideration to these devices is critical to your safety and to the performance of your vehicle. If you aren't routinely thinking about your tires, there's a strong likelihood that you've made or are continuing to make some common mistakes about them. The good news is that by learning the mistakes that you should avoid, as well as visiting your local tire shop for the necessary supplies, you'll be a highly informed vehicle owner and user. Here are some mistakes that you shouldn't be making.
Running Your Vehicle On Mismatched Tires
It's ideal to use a set of four identical tires whether you're driving in the summer on summer tires or the winter on winter tires. Some motorists will buy mismatched tires in an attempt to save money, or simply get different tires if two of their four tires are worn out. This can be dangerous; different tread patterns aren't necessarily conducive to operating together as a cohesive unit, which can give you a different degree of control behind the wheel than you might expect. Additionally, some tires' rubber will wear faster than others, which means that you might have two nearly bald tires on the back of your vehicle, while the front ones are in good shape.
Using Summer Tires In The Winter
Lots of motorists will attempt to save money by running summer tires during the winter months; people commonly believe that because they're a good driver, they'll be able to control a vehicle with less tread depth. While this might partially be true, it's also highly dangerous to use summer tires in the winter. Tread depth isn't the only concern; summer and winter tires are made out of different sorts of rubber, and summer tires will be stiff and non-responsive when they're used in sub-zero temperatures. This can compromise your ability to control the vehicle and stay safe during inclement road conditions.
Failing To Top Up The Air
Some vehicles have sensors that indicate when a tire's air pressure is low, but you shouldn't necessarily count on this technology when it comes to keeping you safe. A short drive around any city will reveal many people driving on tires that are clearly below their recommended inflation level; this can decrease the vehicle's braking response, as well as harm fuel mileage. You should get in the habit of checking your tire pressure each time that you stop to fill up your gas tank.
For more tips on how to keep your tires in the best condition, talk to a company like Euro-Tire.
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