Regular tire maintenance helps keep your tires in good condition. Tires are subject to constant friction and will eventually wear out, but regular checks help extend their service life. As your Ford dealer, we want to tell you some signs your tires could be wearing out and may need replacement.
Signs You Need Tire Maintenance at Your Ford Dealer
Underinflated Tires
Maintaining tire pressure is essential for maximizing tire life. The correct tire pressure for your Ford is listed in your vehicle manual and on a metal plate or sticker on the inside door jamb of the front passenger door. Tire pressure can drop due to a leak or the internal tire pressure trying to equalize with the pressure outside.
Low pressure causes a tire to sag, exposing part of the weaker sidewalls to friction damage with the surface. Tires with low pressure are easy to spot, as they have increased wear on the outer areas of the tread. This damage makes leaks more likely and will mean your tires need early replacement. We’ll correct your tire pressure and check your tire condition. If the tires are damaged, we can replace them.
Cracked Tires
Tires are made from high-quality rubber and have additional reinforcing under the tread to reduce friction damage. Rubber provides the perfect mixture of strength and flexibility, but it naturally loses this flexibility over time due to the effects of heat, cold, and sunlight. As rubber becomes less flexible, it will crack rather than flex.
Cracks in a tire will gradually expand as the rubber heats up when driving and cools down when you stop. If a crack extends deep enough into the tire, it will cause a leak. We can plug small leaks, but a cracked tire will gradually become more damaged and eventually fail. Our technicians can check your tires and repair a leak or replace the tire, depending on the extent of the damage.
Tire Vibration
If you’re driving and feel vibrations, you could have a damaged tire. Vibrations are caused by a tire that isn’t correctly balanced due to excessive wear. This damage could be due to a wheel alignment problem or the tire’s internal structure breaking down.
Wheel alignment gradually changes as you drive, and incorrect alignment causes excessive wear. The tire could also have internal damage due to a manufacturing flaw. We can’t repair internal tire damage, but fixing an alignment problem can extend the tire’s life.
If you have a tire problem, visit us today at Clay Maxey Ford of Harrison in Harrison, AR.
