Overlooking Tire Care Can Cost You Plenty.

Tire care is one of the most neglected, yet very important parts of overall car care. You car tires have a big impact on the way your car handles and feels when driving and stopping. They also play an important part in fuel consumption. Both of these issues relate to proper tire inflation. A properly inflated tire will also last longer.

Other than periodically inspecting the tires to make sure there are no nails or other sharp objects in them, cuts, slits or abrasions on the sidewall of the tire, maintaining proper tire pressure is the most important aspect of tire care. With that in mind I would like to list some things that you need to be aware of on a regular basis.

• It's not unusual for a properly inflated tire to lose up to 1 psi per month. If there are any leaks in the tire this can increase dramatically. It's a good idea to have your tire pressure checked at least once a month and preferably once a week to make sure it hasn't lost air. Newer cars have tire pressure monitoring systems and will warn you when a tire or tires is low on air.

• Proper tire care includes checking tire pressure when the tire is cold. Tire pressure increases as the tire warms up during driving and checking it when it's hot will not reflect an accurate pressure reading. Along this same line you may have noticed that your tire pressure monitoring system may show a low tire reading when its really cold outside.

• Remember to check the air pressure in the spare.Tire care for the spare tire is just as important as for the other tires. Otherwise, you may find yourself stranded with a flat spare.

• It's important to know the recommended tire pressure for your tires. There are two places you can find this. Unfortunately the recommendations are not always the same. The tire manufacturer gives a maximum cold temperature pressure (you can find it on the sidewall of the tire). The car manufacturer's recommended tire pressure for the vehicle is usually on the door jamb. It can also be on the inside of the glove compartment door, and even the inside of the filler where the gas cap screws in. It is usually lower than the tire manufacturer's recommendation.

  Good tire care requires the tires be inflated properly. When inflated to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation you will most likely notice a smoother ride. Inflating the tires to the tire manufacturer's cold tire limit has been shown to improve gas mileage and increase the life of the tire but results in a somewhat stiffer feel. Just be aware that tire life is also affected by climate and suspension component wear.

• Tire pressure gauges are not created equal. I like to think that most service stations and mechanics have accurate gauges but that's not always the case. It's a good idea to buy a high quality gauge and check the pressure yourself or have whoever checks it for you use your gauge so there's no chance for unusual readings due to a faulty gauge.

• Replace the caps on your valve stems if you lose any of them. They keep dirt and moisture out of the valve stem and can make a difference in whether a leak develops from a stem. You can get replacements at parts stores or your vehicles dealer.

• As noted earlier, keeping your tires at the proper pressure is a proven way to keep your fuel economy up. Properly inflated tires will increase fuel economy between three and five percent over tires with pressures below those recommended.

• If your car was made in 2007 or later it will have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). It's important to know the type of system you have because some of them specifically monitor a tire on a particular wheel. On these systems if the tires are rotated the system will need to be reset to compensate for the rotation. Your owner's manual should have the information you need and you should be sure the person or service facility dong your tire care is aware of the requirements of your particular system.

• The air in your tires may not really be air. Some new cars are coming out with tire filled with pure nitrogen. These tires have green valve stem covers and when refilled should only be inflated with nitrogen. Nitrogen has been used in racing for awhile now. It's been shown to reduce pressure loss over time and increase tire life because it is less corrosive than compressed air which is has 22 percent oxygen (a corrosive gas). If you have regular compressed air in your tires you can have them switched over to nitrogen. There is usually a fee for this service.

• Replace your tires before they are completely worn out.If all of the tread on your tires is gone you've waited too long. The standard test for when it's time to replace your tires is the old "penny test". Stick a penny inside the tire tread. If Abe Lincoln's head is inside the tread then you are still in good shape. Most tires today have tread wear indicators that run between the treads of the tire. When the tread wears to the point where the wear indicators are level with the tread it's time to replace the tire.

  Tread wear is not the only thing to watch. The sidewalls and tread surface of a tire will deteriorate over time due to exposure to prolonged sun and cold exposure. Tires on a car that is not driven very often may have almost new looking tread but have dry rot or cracks in the sidewalls due to age. All of these things need to be taken into account when deciding if a tire needs to be replaced.

• Replace tires in a set or when replacing just one be sure it's the same size and tread pattern. Mismatched tires adversely affect handling and braking.

Remember. Good tire care is not an option. Your tires are what connect you and your car to the road. Keeping them in good condition is important to your pocket book and your safety.

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