When to Visit a Tire Shop
A car’s owner is responsible for all of its hardware, and all necessary repairs and maintenance. The wheels, tires, and rims are a good example of this, and car tires may wear out over time and need to be replaced. In other cases, car tires may get totally destroyed and need replacement at once, or the rims may suffer damage. The good news is that a car’s owner can take their vehicle to a tire store, and tire shops offer all sorts of brands and models for the customer to choose from. Some tires are designed for certain conditions, in fact, offering a better (and safer) driving experience. Off-road tires at a tire store are always an option for those interested, but in other cases, conventional on-road tires may be desired. What is there to know about tire stores and tire and rim maintenance?
Caring for Tires
There are a number of reasons why a driver may take their car or truck into the tire store for new hardware. Tires naturally wear out and lose performance, or they may get totally destroyed. Driving on faulty tires may in fact increase the odds of a traffic accident, and no one wants that. In fact, in the year 2017, a total of 738 motor accident fatalities were due to tire problems.
All tires will wear out over time, and they may have their grip worn off, making them more slippery on the road. On top of that, the tires will start deflating slowly but constantly, and they may keep deflating even if they are pumped up again. These tires may harm the car’s fuel economy, and at worst they may make a car sloppy and erratic to drive. Worse yet, a car’s tires may get punctured and deflate fast if they strike a sharp object such as a piece of scrap metal, a rock, or broken glass. Tires might even explode in some cases. The car’s driver may pull over and fit on a spare tire, but if they cannot for some reason, they can call for a tow truck and have the vehicle taken to a tire store for replacements.
New tires, as opposed to older ones, are tough and easily keep their pressure high, which makes for a smooth and safe drive. Some tires may be designed for particular conditions, and a car owner may get them depending on the weather or their planned driving. Overall, there are on-road tires, then four categories of off-road tires. Those four categories are: all-terrain, mud-terrain, snow/winter, and sand. These tires are quite rugged and offer specialized grips and features to make driving on rough conditions smoother and easier. Many drivers may opt for winter or snow tires during snowy weather, since snow and ice on roads may cause many cars to go out of control. Good tires may help prevent that.
How often should tires be rotated or changed to keep a car running smoothly? One recommendation is to have a car’s tire rotation done every 3,000 to 6,000 miles or so, or have tire rotations coincide with oil changes. Another form of tire upkeep is alignment and balancing, and tires and wheels may be aligned and adjusted every 5,000 to 6,000 miles to increase the hardware’s lifespan and general performance. When it comes to tire and wheel imbalance correction, the issue may be either static (single plane) or dynamic (dual plane).
Car Rims
Tires alone don’t make a car move. The wheels will also have aluminum rims fitted over them, and tires are fitted onto those rims in turn. Good rims are tough and solid, but they may suffer damage if they are struck or they may simply get dirty. A car’s owner may wash them off as needed, but they should refrain from using steel wool to scour them (steel wool may scratch up the aluminum surface). If the rims sustain dents and dings, those imperfections can be pounded out to make the rim like new. And finally, a car enthusiast may buy a car, then swap out its plain old rims for stylish new ones to show off. Car enthusiasts may even spray paint their car rims or put in lights, which help the car stand out during car meets or races.