It’s good to know the condition of your tires before moving out for a ride. Ensure the safety of you and your vehicle, all the time.

1. Keep your tires properly inflated

Under or over-inflated tires may not accelerate, steer or brake properly. You must check your tire pressure once a month, when the tires are cold do it. Before heading out for a drive do all the inspections. You can find where you need to make an adjustment.

According to the Tire and Rubber Association of Canada:

70% of vehicles have at least one tire with an inflation problem.

23% of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated 

17% of vehicles have at least one tire over-inflated by more than 20%.

2. Rotate your tires regularly

By rotating your tires the life and performance will be improved. It’s recommended to rotate your tires once every 10,000 to 12,000 km or six months.

3. Get a Wheel Alignment

Get a wheel alignment to avoid uneven tread wear, you can go for this every year or about 25,000 km. Railroad crossing or potholes can easily break your vehicle’s tires out of whack.

4. Make sure your tires are balanced

Having unbalanced or inappropriate tires can lead to premature tire tread wear. Check whether your tires are balanced every time you change or rotate your tires or when you install a new set of wheels.

5. Frequently inspect your tires

While checking the tire pressure, also inspect your tires for cracks or bulges, objects lodged in the tire, punctures, and uneven tread wear.

6.  Don’t mix and match tires

Though it’s cost-effective to replace one or two tires at a time, having mismatched tires can lead to rapid and uneven tread wear or even mechanical issues.

7. Replace your tires when needed

Regularly checking the condition of the tires will let you know when to replace them, tires are manufactured with wear bars and when the bar gets exposed, replace it. Do the Bluenose test, insert a dime with the Bluenose’s sail facing down into the tire tread. If you can see the top of the sails, then the tire is worn out, so it’s time to get a new set of wheels.

8. Post Puncture maintenance

Check tires repeatedly for damages due to punctures and impact. Always use new tubeless valves and new tubes while replacing the tubeless and tube-type tires.

9. Wheel Balancing

This allows the tires and wheels to spin without any vibrations. If the wheel is well-balanced it can be good for a better ride, handling, and safety. Balance the wheel assembly whenever you feel vibrations during running.

10. Store spare tires the right way

Check whether the tires are clean, free of gasoline, grease, or any substance that could deteriorate the rubber. If you store the tires indoors, make sure it’s in a clean, cool, and dark location. Keep it away from direct sunlight or sources of heat. If you’re storing them outdoors, then the tires must be raised off the ground and use waterproof covering with holes to prevent moisture build-up.