As the connection between your vehicle and the road, your tires play a crucial role. Improper maintenance is to blame for far too many car accidents, with poor traction causing drivers to lose control.
Here at Santee Ford, our certified technicians are committed to your vehicle’s care – and to keeping you safe on the road. Whether you’re driving a brand-new model or a used Ford, we’ll perform the maintenance needed to keep it running right.
Want to learn more about tire care? Read on to learn the basics, then contact Santee Ford to schedule your service appointment.
How Tire Maintenance Benefits Your Ford
Each of your vehicle’s components experience wear and tear over time, but because your tires make direct contact with the road, their care is especially important. Whether you make a long commute to work or spend your afternoons shuttling kids around town, there are several factors that affect your tires’ condition – like your driving habits, road conditions, and climate.
Keeping tires properly inflated is key for maximizing performance and fuel efficiency. Be sure to check your tire tread as well. By scheduling tire rotations and pressure checks, you can help prevent a dangerous tire failure. In fact, tire failure causes an estimated 11,000 crashes each year, according to the National Traffic Safety Administration.
Tire Maintenance Basics
Here are some helpful tips from our experts, some of which you can do yourself at home.
Visual Inspection
Conducting a visual inspection is a simple place to start. But keep in mind that conducting a successful inspection involves knowing exactly what to look for. Here’s what to watch for:
- Cracks and Missing Chunks of Tire: This can be caused by constant sun exposure and the natural aging of the tire’s rubber compounds.
- Tire Bubbles: While less common, tire bubbles can form after any type of severe damage, from a run-in with road debris to impact with a curb. If you notice a bubble-like bulge on the sidewall of your tire, a replacement is recommended as soon as possible.
Tread Check
Keep a close eye on your tires’ tread depth and overall condition. Sufficient tread is needed to grip the road, providing better traction on wet roads or uneven terrain. But since treads wear down over time, it’s important to routinely check the built-in tread wear indicator on the tire. The more the tread wears down, the more visible the indicator will become. Once the tread is in line with the indicator, the tires are no longer safe for use.
Balancing and Rotating
Each tire has slight differences in suspension geometry, causing them to wear at different rates. In order to prevent uneven wear, tires must be rotated. At Santee Ford, we will perform this tire maintenance task to help extend your tires’ lifespan.
Our highly trained technicians will also balance your tires to prevent unwanted vibrations and promote uniform tire wear. This is done using a special tire balancing machine that measures the tire’s natural balance, allowing our technicians to balance any vibrations by adding or removing wheel weights.
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Both overinflation and underinflation can lead to premature tire wear. Too much tire pressure decreases contact with the road, which in turn makes your car more difficult to handle. It even increases the likelihood of a blowout. Having too little tire pressure, though, results in poor gas mileage and lower ride quality.
If your tire pressure monitoring system light is on, trust our team to fix the issue. We are committed to optimizing your tires’ performance and longevity.
Come See Our Tire Experts at Santee Ford!
Our experts at Santee Ford perform all types of Ford maintenance, including tire repairs and replacements. If it’s time to put new tires on your Ford F150 or Ford Explorer, we carry an extensive selection of tire types and sizes to suit your needs.
Whether you’re due for a regular oil change or you’ve noticed some wear on your tires, we’ve got you covered. As your local full-service car repair shop in Manning, SC, our team is here to help. Schedule your next appointment or drop by our Service Center today!
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