How Many Miles Should You Get New Tires?

Purchasing a new set of tires for your vehicle is a big investment.  Thus, many drivers want to know about how many miles should you get new tires.  Most vehicle manufacturers state that the tires that come on their new vehicles will last around 50,000-60,000 miles.  Tire manufacturers also provide a mileage guideline for each of their tires so that vehicle owners will know what to expect out of their new tires.

Of course, there are some factors that will determine at about how many miles should you get new tires, such as:

• What kind of car you own and how you drive, 
• How you maintain your tires
• Quality of the tire
• All-purpose or all-season tire
• How the tire is mounted on the car. 
• Manufacturer’s stated length of tread life. 

Tire repair is quick, easy, and relatively cheap, and seemingly insignificant.  But tires that are in good condition are important for your driving safety.  Here are several maintenance tips to remember: 

• Inspect air pressure – A properly inflated tire will ensure optimal contact with the road, increase fuel economy, and help the tread wear more evenly. 
• Visual Checkup – Measure the amount of tread remaining, check tires for slashes, visible wires, or damage to the sidewall.
• Tire rotation – About every 6 months (or between 6,000 to 8,000 miles), rotate your tires around to a different position on the vehicle to make sure they wear in an even pattern.  
• Wheel Alignment – Wheel Alignment refers to an adjustment of the vehicle’s suspension so that the angles of the tires affect how they make contact with the road.  Misalignment wears out tires irregularly, decreasing the life of the tire and compromising the safety of your vehicle.
• Tire Balancing – Tire balancing will help achieve the smooth rolling of the tire. 

Tip for Drivers:  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends that tires be replaced every 6 years regardless of the number of miles driven. 

Are you wondering how many miles should you get new tires?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive about our tire repair services and to make an appointment.  Our auto repair shop has served vehicle owners in Princeton, MN, and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.  

Wondering when Should Tires Be Replaced?

With the snowy and icy conditions beginning to hit several parts of the country, drivers are starting to think about putting their winter tires back into service.  When should tires be replaced for winter?  If you live in a climate where the temperatures consistently remain below 45°F, you can go ahead and switch out your summer tires for ice tires, especially if the cold days include icy conditions.   

Be sure to have your tires checked and any compulsory tire repair taken care of before installing them and that the tread and inflation are sufficient for snowy conditions.  If your winter tires have reached approximately 4/32" of remaining tread depth, you should consider replacing them before winter arrives in full force!

Here are several safety tips to keep in mind when driving with winter tires:

• The RMA recommends installing winter tires in sets of four to optimize the performance benefits.  This will help maintain stability and control of your vehicle in severe snow conditions.
• Traction control or four-wheel drive on your vehicle often gives drivers a false sense of security in winter conditions. Traction control/ABS is designed for vehicle stability, power transmission, and controlled braking. It does NOT optimize traction or grip in winter driving maneuvers. 
• Look for the Severe Ice Conditions Symbol when shopping for winter tires.  It is located on the sidewall, indicating that the tire meets the snow traction standard recognized by the RMA.

After you have removed your summer tires, you will need to store them. Keep them in a cool, dry and preferably shaded or dark location. Store them raised up off the floor on a pallet or rack, sidewall to sidewall.

Remember:  Before re-installing winter tires on your vehicle, have them inspected for possible damage and adequate tread depth.  

Need tire repair on your winter tires?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Rum River Automotive about when should tires be replaced for winter and make an appointment.  Since 1997, our auto repair shop has served car owners in Princeton, MN and in the surrounding areas of Milaca, MN, and Zimmerman, MN.