The Ultimate Guide to Tire Maintenance: How Dobbs Helps You Extend the Life of Your Tires

A new set of tires is an investment in your vehicle’s safety and efficiency. Although all tires perform well when they’re new, proper maintenance is critical to extending the life of your tires and maximizing their effectiveness.

Properly maintained tires can improve your car’s handling, boost fuel economy, and (most importantly) reduce the need for frequent replacement. As St. Louis’s tire experts, Dobbs Tire & Auto has seen the evolution of tires firsthand and knows what it takes to keep them last.  

This article covers everything you should know about tire maintenance and explains how Dobbs can help.

1. Regularly Check Tire Pressure

When considering tire maintenance essentials, monitoring pressure is undoubtedly at the top of the list. Underinflated or overinflated tires can lead to poor handling, reduced fuel efficiency, and increased or uneven tire wear. Here’s how to stay on top of it:

• Check tire pressure at least once a month and before long trips.
• Learn the manufacturer’s recommended PSI by looking at your vehicle’s manual or the driver’s side door jamb.
• Inflate or deflate as needed to match the recommended PSI.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle to maintaining proper tire pressure is the inconvenient trip to the gas station. The easiest solution is to invest in a device that lets you do it at home. They’re relatively inexpensive, and the convenience is a game-changer! You’ll never have to deal with lines, bad weather, and broken machines the next time you need to fill a tire.

2. Monitor Tread Depth

Tire tread is essential for maintaining traction on the road in wet or slippery conditions. It’s also the primary indicator that lets you know it’s time to retire your existing tires and stop into Dobbs for a new set. If your tread is less than 4/32 in., find the Dobbs in your area. Trust us, with 40+ locations (and counting), there’s one nearby!  

 There are several tried-and-true methods to check your tires’ tread depth, including:

The Penny Test: Insert a penny into the tread groove with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace the tire.

Tread Depth Gauge: Don’t trust the penny method?  Tread depth gauges can deliver the most accurate reading.

3. Tire Rotation and Balancing

Can you recall the last time you took your vehicle in for a tire rotation?  Most drivers don’t prioritize this quick, easy, and surprisingly inexpensive maintenance task, resulting in tires that wear out much sooner than they should.

The general rule is to rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles or according to your vehicle’s manual. The rotation pattern may vary depending on your vehicle’s drivetrain (front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive).

In addition to your tire rotation, tire balancing is invaluable for maximizing the life of your tires. Here’s a brief overview of what the process entails and why it matters:

Tire balancing equalizes the weight distribution of a tire and wheel assembly to ensure it rotates smoothly at high speeds. This service helps prevent uneven wear and vibrations and improves the overall performance and longevity of the tires.

If you need professional insight on the rotation guidelines for your specific vehicle’s tires, or if you’re finally ready to cross rotation and balancing off your to-do list, visit the expert and certified technicians at a Dobbs Tire & Auto center near you. 

4. Check Tire Alignment

Over time, each pothole and curb you encounter takes a toll on your vehicle’s alignment. Misaligned tires can cause uneven wear, impact your vehicle’s handling, and cause accelerated deterioration of your tires.

There are several subtle signs that indicate it’s time to take your vehicle in for an alignment. These include “pulling” to one side of the other when driving straight, noticeably uneven wear on your tires, and steering wheel vibration.

If you want to extend the life of your tires, regular wheel alignment services are essential. Not only are they cost-effective, but you’ll likely only need one alignment per year (or every 5k-10k miles).

When You Think Tires, Think Dobbs

For nearly half a century, Dobbs has provided customers with the industry’s highest-quality name-brand tires.  No matter which type of vehicle you drive, our goal is to help you find the perfect fit at the perfect price.

In addition to our unmatched inventory and expertise, we recognize how important convenience is to our customers. Today, we have over 40 locations in neighborhoods throughout Greater St. Louis and beyond, and we’re constantly adding more shops to better serve our community. No matter where you live or what you need, for all things automotive, you can “Depend on Dobbs.”