How To Maintain Summer Performance Tires: 5 Tips To Protect Your Treads

Whether you’re looking to maintain your summer performance tires’ tread life, fuel efficiency, or ride quality, proper upkeep is essential, and your local TIRECRAFT can help you do it right.

Read on to learn 5 simple things you can do to protect your summer performance tire investment, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to get a free quote on any tire service straight away.

How To Maintain Summer Performance Tires: Top-5 T.R.A.C Tips

“By taking the time to learn a few simple techniques, motorists can save at the pumps, be eco-friendly, and experience the exceptional performance summer tire makers want every driver to have,” writes Carol Hochu, president of the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada (TRAC).

As part of their Be Tire Smart campaign, TRAC researchers are urging drivers to:

1.    Be More Diligent About Tire Pressure Management

95% of surveyed drivers said they understand the importance of maintaining proper tire inflation, but only 22% check pressure levels once per month as recommended.

And when they do make time for pressure checks, most drivers are doing it wrong. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of drivers don’t know tire pressure should only be checked when the tires are “cold” (i.e. stationary for at least 3 hours or driven less than 2 kilometers), and one-third (33%) dangerously overfill their tires, using the maximum inflation levels listed on the sidewall instead of the manufacturer’s recommendation.

This is a huge problem. In fact, improper tire pressure maintenance is widely known as the number-one cause of summer performance tire blowouts, and it can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 3%.

If you need help managing summer performance tire inflation, contact your local TIRECRAFT. We offer free pressure checks and top-ups with every appointment, and we can set you up with a portable gauge and tire inflator for a great price.

2.    Do Not Overload Your Vehicle

Obviously, exceeding your vehicle’s max load index is a safety hazard, but even submaximal loads can cause problems.

The greater the weight of your vehicle, the faster your tire treads will wear down. Overloading can also lead to handling issues, increased braking and suspension wear, and decreased fuel economy, so travel light whenever possible!

3.    Keep Your Summer Performance Tires Aligned

When your tires are out of alignment, it means that the contact patch is meeting the road at the wrong angle. This can cause tire drag, dropping fuel efficiency by 10% or more and causing damage to your treads, such as feathering and heel-toe wear, both of which will void most manufacturers’ warranties and put your tires on the fast track to the scrap yard.

To avoid these problems and prevent performance drop-offs, we recommend booking inspections every 6 months or 10,000km of driving, as well as immediately after any collisions that could have knocked your tires out of alignment.

4.    Rotate Your Summer Performance Tires

If you’re changing over to snow tires during the winter, you probably won’t have to worry about rotations, since this service can be “baked into” your seasonal changeover.

However, if you use all-seasons year-round, or you regularly push your tires to the limits with heavy loads, rapid accelerations, and sharp turning, you should consider rotating them at least once per 6 months or 10,000km.

To schedule an inspection and get a free quote on your next rotation, get in touch with our team.

5.    Plan For Proper Summer Performance Tire Storage

The summer driving season is only just warming up, but it’s never too early to start planning your off-season storage.

Summer performance tire storage isn’t as simple as finding space for a pile in your shed or garage, at least if you want to avoid premature wear, dry rot, and loss of warranty coverage.

If you’re storing your tires at home, you will need to invest some time and effort to control humidity, temperature, light, and ozone exposure. You may also need to purchase hooks or racks, depending on whether you’re storing your tires on or off rims.

If you’d rather skip the start-up costs and save the effort, contact your local TIRECRAFT. We offer affordable summer performance tire storage solutions that are 100% compliant with tire manufacturer’s recommendations and warranty requirements.

Book A Free Summer Performance Tire Consultation: Contact TIRECRAFT

To learn more about how to protect your summer performance tire investment, contact your local TIRECRAFT for a free consultation.

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