Tire Care Tips in Ozark, AL

Although they can be easy to overlook, your tires deserve the highest degree of care and attention to ensure that they stay in peak condition. Otherwise, you could end up contending with a host of issues in the future, including impaired traction, handling, and stability. For this reason, the Service Department at Gilland Ford would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to speed on a few helpful tips!

Safe Driving

While staying aware and alert behind the wheel is crucial for your well-being, it also keeps your tires from prematurely wearing out. Since traveling at a faster rate creates more heat and friction, the rubber that composes your tires will degrade more quickly than it will if you obey the speed limit. This also applies to turning and braking, since your components will have to work harder to keep you from losing grip. Not to mention, you’ll be increasing your chances of a traffic citation! However, even if you’re responsible with the gas pedal, you’ll still want to focus on accelerating gradually and applying the brakes with sufficient time to slow down.

Daily Inspection

Since you can’t visit us every day to have our technicians examine your tires, it’s important to know a few warning signs to be on the lookout for. Before you get behind the wheel, take a moment to walk around your car, truck, or SUV to inspect the condition of each component, as this helps you stay on top of any issues. For instance, flat spots indicate that you need to fill up on air, while unusual wear could point toward a misaligned suspension. In addition, you can perform the penny test to check in on the tread depth, as this is one the strongest indicators for when to get new tires. Just insert the coin headfirst into the groove and check to see if Lincoln’s face is visible. If you can see all or part of it, then it’s time for a replacement. 

Tire Rotations

Finally, we’re here to lend a hand to ensure that you get the most out of your tires. One of the easiest ways to keep things in order is to drop by for a tire rotation! This form of routine maintenance mitigates uneven wear by moving the front pair to the back, as these two are subjected to more strain than the ones in back. If you fail to complete this job every few months or so, you might end up having to replace your tires one or two at a time, which prevents you from the convenience and per-unit savings of buying four at once. Even worse, you could experience reduced fuel economy and traction in the meantime. 

For more tire care tips in Ozark, AL, get in touch with the technicians here at Gilland Ford. Or, drop by the dealership to meet our experts in person and view our selection for yourself!