Proper tire care and safety is simple and easy. The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends taking five minutes every month and before every long trip to check your tires, including the spare. Just remember to ...

Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART:
Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, Tread

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Tire Pressure

Maintaining correct tire pressure is the most important factor in reducing tire wear. Under inflation results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. Industry experts agree that under inflation causes most drivers to lose from 10% to as much as 50% of tire tread life. It is a fact that tires lose pressure each day, through the process of permeation. In cool weather, a tire will typically lose one or two pounds of air per month. In warm weather, it's common for tires to lose air at an even higher rate. Check your tire pressure monthly or drop by one of our stores to have your tire pressure checked.

Alignment

Alignment is one of the key maintenance factors in getting the most wear and performance from your tires. In addition, wheel alignment provides safe, predictable vehicle control as well as a smooth and comfortable ride that's free of pulling or vibration. Under normal driving conditions your vehicle's alignment should be checked once a year. It should always be checked when you purchase tires, or experience tire or rim damage due to impact with an object such as a curb or pothole. To learn more about alignments click here.

Rotation

Rotating your vehicles tires periodically is an essential part of tire maintenance. The main purpose of regularly rotating tires is to help achieve more uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. However, tires should be rotated earlier if irregular or uneven wear develops. Keep in mind that a hard impact such as hitting a pothole can cause misalignment. Misalignment is one of the most common causes of uneven and irregular tire wear. Irregular or uneven wear may also be an indication of a mechanical problem. If you notice unusual tire wear stop by your local Gateway Tire for an alignment inspection.

Tread

Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage. If your uncertain what to look for or need assistance, drop by one of our stores for a free tire inspection.