The Importance of Your Car’s Tires

During West Texas summers, you will commonly see one thing as you drive down the road: shredded tires. In the winter, worn tires can lead to skidding on ice and hydroplaning when it is slick outside. The common denominator is poorly maintained tires on vehicles. Your tires serve to support the load of your vehicle, apply traction and braking forces, absorbing shocks in the road such as potholes, and changing or maintaining the directional travel of your car.

Regular wear and tear or damage to your tires can be catastrophic to your safety as well as that of others on the roadway. Willis Auto and Diesel Services in Lubbock, Texas, has some things you should check regularly on your tires to ensure that you are avoiding dangerous signs of deterioration.

First, your tires’ tread depth is essential to the performance of your tires. In order to navigate wet, hot, or otherwise out-of-the-ordinary road conditions, your tires need tread. When it is wet, the grooves on your vehicle’s tires work to siphon water away from the surface of the road. Worn down tread can lead to not only bad accidents due to hydroplaning or reduced braking distance, but also blowouts that are not only costly but also dangerous. Checking your tire tread depth frequently can help avoid these accidents.

Your tires have a range that their air pressure should stay between. When they are over- or under-inflated, your gas mileage and maneuverability suffer. A tire pressure gauge measures your tire pressure to make sure they are inflated to the correct specifications according to your tire manufacturer. Maintaining good air pressure will improve your gas mileage and the safety of your vehicle.

A regular balancing and rotation of your tires is also necessary for the maintenance of your vehicle. Unbalanced tires can affect the way your vehicle handles and lead to costly repairs. Rotating your tires every 6 months and balancing them annually will help avoid these more costly repairs.

Willis Auto and Diesel Services in Lubbock, Texas, offers tire rotations and tune-ups to ensure that you are safe on the road. Contact or visit us today to keep Texas roadways safe!