Put Your Money Where It Matters: 3 Tire Services You Can’t Afford To Skip

Not all tire services are created equal—some, like tire cleanings, can be put off without too much risk, while others are essential for your vehicle’s performance, fuel efficiency, and long-term cost control.

To help you spend wisely and stay safe, today’s post runs down 3 essential tire services that no driver can afford to skip.

Read on to learn more, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to speak directly with a tire service specialist near you.

1.   Tire Rotation

In a perfect world, our tires would always work in perfect harmony, carrying the exact same load, wearing down evenly, and coming to the end of their service life on the same day.

Unfortunately, that’s not the world we live in. Tires carry uneven loads, thanks to differences in vehicle designs and cargo placements; their contact patches hit different parts of the road surface; and collisions impact every tire differently. Over time, these differences add up, causing uneven tread wear that leads to poor performance and premature tire failures.

But by periodically changing the position of each tire on your vehicle, you can even out these differences in tread wear, weight distribution, and damage, which can:

• Prolong tread life and long-term tire performance
• Improve fuel efficiency
• Reduce the risks of premature tire failure
• Keep your warranty coverage intact
• Increase the odds of detecting other tire problems early

Like all of the tire services mentioned today, tire rotations are very economical, costing around $100 on average, but they pay dividends, saving drivers hundreds or even thousands of dollars on replacement sets, fuel costs, and related repairs over time.

We typically recommend booking this tire service after every 6 months or 10,000km of driving, whichever comes first. Many Canadians choose to include it in their seasonal changeover service.

2.   Tire Alignment

Tire alignments ensure rubber meets the road at the proper angle, which is essential for your vehicle’s steering performance, fuel economy, and tread life.

Driving with improper tire alignment can:

• Make steering less predictable and responsive to driver inputs, increasing the odds of dangerous collisions and unwanted auto repair costs
• Create tire drag, forcing the engine to work harder and reducing fuel efficiency by as much as 10%
• Put strain on the wrong parts of your tire, creating uneven tread wear, such as feathering, camber wear, and heel/toe wear

You know you need this tire service if:

• You notice uneven tread wear on your tires, particularly on the inside or outer edge
• Your vehicle is pulling to the left or right
• Your steering wheel needs to be held off-center in order to drive straight
• You feel significant vibrations in the steering wheel

Tire alignments typically cost around $100-150, depending on your vehicle, but they can save you thousands in auto repair costs, fuel expenses, and early tire replacements.

This tire service is recommended once every 12 months or 20,000km of driving, but you should also invest in a tire alignment after any significant collisions or encounters with road hazards, as these impacts can throw off your camber, caster, and toe.

3.   Tire Pressure Checks

Your vehicle rides on air, so it’s important that you have the right amount at all times. Improper tire pressure can cost you in the form of:

• Rapid tire wear, putting excess rubber on the road and shaving years off their service life
• Poor fuel efficiency—every 5 PSI your tires fall below the manufacturer’s recommendation decreases your gas mileage by 2%
• Related auto repairs, as underinflated tires reduce handling performance and put more strain on your suspension system

We include tire pressure checks and top-ups with most of our auto services, but if you want to do it yourself, you can buy a quality pressure gauge and compressor at your local TIRECRAFT.

Get A Free Quote On Any Tire Service: Find A Local TIRECRAFT

Use the Find a TIRECRAFT tool to get in touch with a tire tech near you and get a free quote on any tire services.

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