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Maintain your tires to maximize the performance of your tires and your vehicle. Tires have a lot riding on them and they are the most overlooked safety feature on a car. Check your tires regularly to make sure they are properly inflated, and in good over-all condition.
(NC)—As we put away our winter hats and boots, it quickly becomes time to spring into action and clean up for the warmer weather. Nothing puts a damper on weekend getaways, however, like avoidable, performance-related car issues. Simple maintenance can combat the effects of winter driving that may still be taking a toll on your vehicle.
To maximize the performance; and to get the most out of our tires Goodyear Canada suggests that drivers consider the following:
*Change With The Seasons:
Winter tires are specifically designed to stay pliable and provide better traction in colder temperatures, but these compounds are susceptible to faster wear in warmer weather. Protect the investment you've made in winter tires by using them only in the winter.
*Shoe Size:
As you take off your car's winter “shoes,” make sure you stay consistent with the tire size the vehicle manufacturer has recommended. These specs can be found printed on the vehicle door placard or in the owner's manual.
*Get Your Money's Worth:
A vehicle's safety and performance features represent a significant financial investment, including four wheel drive, to traction control and sport suspension. But tires are the only thing translating those benefits to the road. Advances in tire technology have delivered a new generation of moderately priced tires that offer superior traction and handling. Take a look at the Eagle GT tires from Goodyear, for example. Design features include an aggressive dual zone asymmetric tread with an outboard High Performance Zone to aid grip and responsive handling. The All Season Zone on the inboard side for traction provides confident handling in challenging road or weather conditions.
*Read The Writing On The Wall:
As your vehicle's only connection to the road, learn to read your tires, the same way you learned to read a book. Look for extreme wear, bulges or bubbles, holes or slits in the tire sidewall; they can render the tire hazardous and highly likely to blow out. A tire that is physically damaged not only fails to fit the wheel properly, but also affects the overall performance of the vehicle.
More information is available online at www.goodyear.ca.