At Lamb’s Tire & Automotive, we understand how critical tire care is for your safety and the longevity of your vehicle. Proper tire maintenance not only extends the life of your tires but also ensures a safer driving experience for you and your passengers.

Five Key Tire Care Tips

Neglecting your vehicle can lead to costly repairs. Here are five essential things to keep in mind to protect your tires and save money on repairs.

1. Tires Eventually Wear Down

Tires are made of rubber, which naturally degrades over time. Since they're the only part of your car in constant contact with the road, their tread gradually wears thin. When this happens, stopping distances increase, posing risks to everyone on the road. A sudden blowout can be fatal.

Regular inspections can help catch issues early. Monthly checks for signs of wear, uneven tread patterns, or foreign objects lodged in the tires are crucial. These steps are your responsibility as a responsible car owner.

2. Misalignment Can Ruin Your Tires

Your car's wheel and tire setup endures a lot of stress from daily use. Accidents, potholes, or worn suspension components can throw the alignment off. Look for uneven tread wear or bald spots, which often indicate misalignment.

Other signs of misalignment include drifting to one side, a crooked steering wheel after turns, or a vibrating steering wheel. Our team at Lamb’s can help adjust the alignment to avoid unnecessary wear and tear.

3. Damaged Shocks Impact Tire Health

Worn-out shocks can lead to irregular wear on the outer edges of your tires. Inspecting your tires regularly can help detect this issue early. Flat spots can also form if your car stays parked for extended periods. Driving your car occasionally can help prevent this.

4. Squealing Tires Are Not Normal

Squealing tires are a sign something isn't right. Underinflated tires increase the risk of accidents, while overinflation can damage your tires. Maintaining proper tire pressure is key. If you’re unsure how to check or adjust tire pressure, our team at Lamb’s is here to help.

Ignoring tread wear can also cause squealing. Poor alignment is another common culprit. The good news? These issues are entirely preventable!

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5. Vibrations Indicate Tire Problems

If your steering wheel starts vibrating at higher speeds, it could signal tire imbalance. This can happen when the wheels and tires aren’t aligned correctly. Visit us at Lamb’s as soon as possible for a professional inspection and balancing.

Tire Rotation and Balancing: What You Need to Know

While they sound similar, tire rotation and balancing are distinct procedures. Both are essential for maintaining optimal tire health. Let’s explore what each entails.

Why Tire Rotation Matters

Tires wear differently depending on their position. Ignoring this leads to uneven wear, making your tires unsafe to drive on. Front tires tend to wear faster than rear ones, so rotating them regularly is crucial.

Experts recommend rotating new tires every 5,000 miles, then every 6,000 to 8,000 miles thereafter. Adding this service to routine maintenance, like oil changes, helps prevent excessive wear. Over-rotating won’t hurt, but neglecting it can lead to premature wear.

During rotation, each tire is moved to a different position in the assembly.

Why Tire Balancing Is Important

Balancing and rotating are separate processes but complementary. As tires wear, imbalances can occur, leading to vibrations. Steering wheel vibrations suggest front tires are out of balance, while seat vibrations indicate rear tires are affected.

Ignoring these vibrations can increase fuel consumption, require earlier tire replacements, or even cause dangerous blowouts. At Lamb’s, we use advanced equipment to identify imbalances and apply small weights to the rims to correct them.

Lamb’s Tire Services

Tires are a significant investment, and proper care ensures they last as long as possible. Our tire maintenance services include:

• Inspecting tread depth
• Rotating tires to distribute wear evenly
• Checking the spare tire
• Balancing wheels
• Examining wheel bearings
• Aligning wheels and tires
• Monitoring tire pressure
• Verifying the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

Our tire specialists can recommend a tailored maintenance schedule to maximize your tire warranty. Call today to schedule a rotation and balancing service!