A startling number of South Brunswick, NJ drivers don't have any idea when their tires' birthdays roll around. This is alarming. If your tires are something you only think about once in a great while, crossing your mind only when you've noticed that one is getting soft and needs to have some air added, it's time to start paying attention. Your tires' birthdays are so important that you should keep the information recorded in your vehicle's record books.
The first thing you should do is record the date your new tires were placed on your vehicle, and right alongside that record how many miles you have on your odometer. The smaller your tires, the more frequently they'll need to be replaced. If you drive a tiny economy car, you'll need to replace your tires once you've driven about 10,000 miles. Since larger tires don't rotate as many times per mile, they don't experience the same amount of wear in a short period of time.
Make it a point to examine your tires at least once a month. In addition to making sure they have the proper amount of air, you should also check the tread. Make sure the tire is wearing evenly. If one side appears more worn than the other, it's time to take it to Dayton Toyota in South Brunswick, NJ and have the tires rotated and balanced. A shallow tread doesn't allow your tires to grip the road properly, especially in slippery conditions, creating dangerous driving hazards. These tires will need to be replaced, even if they haven't yet reached their official tire birthday.
Don't assume that just because you've only driven a few thousand miles since your tires' birthdays you don't have to worry about replacing them yet. Even if you only drive your vehicle on special occasions and it spends most of its time in the garage, your tires are still wearing out. Constant exposure to oxygen gradually breaks down the rubber, creating weak points that can result in a dangerous blowout while driving down the highway. The rule of thumb is to change the tires on vehicles that don't get driven on a regular basis ever six years.
The good news is that if you forgot to record your tires' birthdays or you purchased the car with the tires already on it, you don't have to guess the date. The tire manufacturer will have taken the precaution of making sure the expiration date was printed on the tire. You'll find this information on the sidewall of your tire, in the same area that has the ideal amount of tire pressure and other information about the tire.
If you have any questions at all about whether or not it's time to replace your tires, the best thing you can do is contact Dayton Toyota's tire service department in South Brunswick, NJ and set up an appointment to have your tires inspected and replaced, if needed.
