Tire maintenance is a part of every driver’s monthly to-do list. While it’s not always simple to understand belts, hoses, light replacements, or steering issues, tire inspections are straightforward and simple, giving drivers confidence in their car knowledge and helping them stay safe on the road.
To make sure you’re doing tire maintenance right, you want to check out our 7 most common tire maintenance mistakes. Whether it’s inspecting your tires incorrectly, skipping important tire appointments, or replacing your tires with the wrong type, it can all cause problems on the road.
Dive in, make a to-do list, and call Hoffmaster’s Auto Care in Silver Spring, MD if you need help with your tire maintenance today.
Common Tire Maintenance Mistakes
1. Ignoring Your Tire Pressure
How often do you check your tire pressure? Did you know you should be checking your tire pressure monthly, especially during dramatic changes in temperature?
Too many drivers ignore their tire pressure unless there is an accident – hitting a pothole, scraping a curb, or driving through construction zones. The truth is that your tire pressure could be affected by more than an obvious fender bender.
Make a note to check your tire pressure at least once a month. For Maryland drivers, you also want to check your tire pressure after there has been a change in temperature – one morning it is 80, then it is 50, and this can affect your tires. Make the note, do the check – you’ll be safer on the road.
2. Skipping Visual Tire Checks
You don’t need to take your car in for an inspection every year, but you should be visually checking your tires once a month – when you’re checking your tire pressure, for example.
Visually checking your tires is an important part of tire maintenance to catch cracks, bulges, debris, nails, damage, and more early on before they cause a blowout on the highway. We know that tires can become an afterthought, but walking around your car once a month and running your hand along the rubber can go a long way.
Check for:
Cracks
Bugles
Nails
Rim damage
Tread depth
3. Putting Off Tire Rotations
Everyone knows they are supposed to rotate their tires, but are you really doing it? We know it’s hard to get down to your local auto shop, but tire rotations are a part of tire maintenance you can’t ignore.
Putting off tire rotations means heavily wearing your tires unevenly. This means that replacing tires becomes more complicated, shortening the lifespan of some tires and leading to uneven tread when you only replace a single tire at a time.
Skipping tire rotations puts you at risk for more expensive tire replacements later, instability on the road, improper alignment, and more. Make the call today and we’ll get you in: tire rotations in Silver Spring, Maryland.
4. Not Considering Your Tire’s Age
Tread depth is not the only way to measure the safety of your tires. Maryland does not have an annual auto inspection, leaving drivers to think they don’t need to consistently check their tires. However, old tires mean old rubber, which can lead to big issues on the road.
When considering tire replacement, check the age of your tires. You may need to consult a professional mechanic about the safety of your tires, because old rubber is more likely to blow out, tear, or face other unexpected damage.
5. Mixing and Matching Tires
When you need a tire replacement, it is advised to swap at least both the front or both the rear tires if you can’t afford all four. This is because you want the tires to wear and grip evenly.
Too many times, we see the common tire maintenance mistake of only swapping out one tire or mixing and matching winter tires with summer tires, because it is what is on hand. While we know you need a tire in an emergency, do not keep mixed-matched tires on your car for longer than a week.
6. Overtightening Lug Nuts
When you replace a tire on your car, you can get anxious and worried that your tire isn’t “secure” enough. The problem becomes when drivers overtighten their lug nuts because they think tighter is better and safer.
The truth is, lug nuts can be overtightened, and this causes problems with your vehicle. Overtightened lug nuts can damage the brakes, wheel, and more. You want your lug nuts tightened to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This will allow a safe connection without damaging other parts of your car.
7. Overloading the Vehicle
Too much weight in your vehicle can actually damage your tires. Not a lot of drivers know this.
That is why each vehicle, car or truck, has a recommended weight limit.
Putting too much weight in your vehicle sinks the body of the car, putting unnecessary strain on the tires. This is especially dangerous when you overload the car continuously on one side. When loading your car, always distribute the weight as evenly as possible. This goes for groceries, lumber and home improvement materials, luggage, animals and their belongings, kids, guests, and more.
Schedule Tire Maintenance in Silver Spring
If tire maintenance is too much to stay on top of, or you want the professionals you can trust to do it right the first time, give Hoffmaster’s Auto a call in Silver Spring, MD. We help all drivers stay on the road safely to help minimize the risk of accidents.
When your tires are in better shape, so are you. Find out what your car needs today and give us a call. We’re only one call away.
Hoffmaster's Auto Care
Our mission at Hoffmaster’s Auto Care is to provide our customers with the highest level of car repair service and expertise, delivered with honesty, integrity, and a commitment to excellence. Hoffmaster’s Auto Care in Silver Spring, MD has been in business for more than 40 years. All our technicians are ASE certified. You can rely on our experience and knowledge for high-quality auto repair and maintenance services.
