Ways to Get the Best out of Your Tires

Generally, we don’t pay much attention to the purchase and use of tires. We take our car into our trusted garage when we feel there is an issue with the tires and if the mechanic recommends that we change the tires, we go by their recommendation. However, careful purchase and use of tires can help you save a significant amount of money.

1. Spend some time on research: Prior to purchasing tires, it would be a good idea to read up on reviews of different brands so that you are aware of feedback from real-world consumers. A tire that may be advertised as “all season” may not really perform as advertised in really heavy rains. The reviews may reveal that there might be another brand that performs much better in such conditions. Tires that are factory fitted on the car can sometimes be terribly pricey and there might be cheaper alternatives that are just as good or even better when it comes to performance on the road.
2. Keep Tire Safety in Mind: Don’t focus only on price and opt for the cheapest tires available. Remember are tires are all that connect the car with the road. So, if tires fail, you are in grave danger. Make sure that the tires you buy are of good quality, offer good traction and are suitable for the kind of terrain you will be travelling over on a regular basis.
3. Watch out for sales and promotions: Many tire dealers run special promotions close to the end of the year, during festive periods and to clear old stock which might not be the latest tires but are of really good quality and are available at reasonable prices.
4. Check out several different shops: Shop around and ask for the prices of the tires you have in mind at different shops and dealers. Don’t just opt for the tire that your dealer or garage recommends. You might be surprised at how much you can save just by shopping around. There are many tire distributors and dealers in the UAE.
5. Think twice before scrapping tires: If you get a puncture and the tire is not a complete blowout, it might be worthwhile trying to get the tire patched. Only scrap the tire if there is no chance it can be fixed. There are plenty of shops which offer both major and minor tire repairs, including repair of larger punctures by taking the tire off its rim, patching it neatly from the inside and then remounting and rebalancing the tire. The repair cost would definitely be less than that of scrapping the tire and buying an entire new set of tires.
6. Make Sure You Get Your Tires Aligned: Tires can get out of alignment due to aggressive driving, sudden braking, potholes and many other reasons. It is important to keep regular tabs on the condition of the tires and get them aligned. This is definitely cheaper than having to get a new of four tires sooner due to lack of regular tire alignment.
7. Pay Attention to Safe Driving: We might think it is great to create an impression by burning rubber, but this is really tough on your tires. Avoid fast swerves, speeding and sudden stops and try and drive around any obstacles you might see on the road. This would go a long way towards improving tire life.
8. Make Regular Checks: Regularly check the tire’s inflation levels and visually inspect the tires of your vehicle for bulges and scrapes. Make sure you take your vehicle to a knowledgeable tire technician if there are any issues that need to be sorted.
9. Get tires Rotated: When you bring your vehicle in for tire alignment, make sure that they are rotated. Generally, manufacturers recommend that tires are rotated every 10,000 kilometers