Basic Tire Maintenance

  • The tires are the only thing between the vehicle and the road. When they are properly inflated and in good condition, the handling, stability and safety of the vehicle will be maximized. Conversely, when the tires are under inflated, worn out or damaged, all of the safety systems on the vehicle cannot overcome the loss of control that comes with a blow-out or hydroplaning situation. Air pressure in a tire is like oil in an engine; when it is low, the resulting internal damage is unseen until it is too late. Tires naturally lose 1-2 psi per month, so ongoing neglect will eventually result in a tire that cannot support the weight of the vehicle and the occupants. When this happens, the resulting blow-out can result in the loss of control and an accident.
  • It’s also important to rotate the tires on the vehicle every 5-7,000 miles. Today’s front-wheel-drive vehicles cause the steer tires to wear at a much faster rate than the tires on the rear axle. By periodically rotating the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front, motorists can achieve even treadwear on all four tires and increase the mileage and performance. Failing to rotate the tires often results in the front tires wearing out faster while the rear tires develop irregular tread-wear patterns that cause vibrations. The same can be said for alignments. When the vehicle is not properly aligned, the tires will wear out faster which leads to increased operating costs.
  • Finally, drivers should perform a visual inspection of their tires on a regular basis, especially after hitting a pothole, curb or any type of road debris. Bulges, cuts and other visible damage weaken the internal components of the tire, which can lead to a blow-out. Regular visual inspections will often identify any potential problems before they result in an accident. It’s also a good idea to have the tires inspected by a professional before any long road trips to ensure there are no obvious out-of-service conditions that must be addressed.

Basic Wheel Maintenance

  • Wheel balancing is one of the most overlooked services that you should have done to your car. It compensates for uneven wear, imperfection in your tires or rims and other minor damage that could occur to your wheels. There are a number of reasons that wheel balancing may be necessary, but the most common include:
  • Imperfections in the tire due to manufacturing – No tire is perfect. Some will have small imperfections that may be difficult to sense until you are going fast enough or putting enough torque on your tires to cause balance issues.
  • Slipping of the tire on the rim – Sudden braking, improper lubrication used during the tire mounting process, and moderate wear are some reasons that a balanced tire can slip and spin on a rim. This results in an imbalanced tire that can cause vibrations while driving down the road.
  • Uneven wear – Uneven wear can cause the tire to deform in ways that interact negatively with imperfections in the tire rim. This can cause vibrations and loss of grip due to excessive runout.

Wheel Bearing Replacement:

  • Wheel bearings are intricate components that exist within the wheel hubs of your car’s suspension. The best way to explain their job is to liken them to well-oiled gears that allow your wheels to spin freely without creating too much friction.When these metal bearings become worn, they lose their ability to spin freely. This can result in play in your wheels, noise, vibrations and other problems that can lead to everything from a diminished driving experience to excessive wear on other suspension components like your car’s struts.
  • While the procedure for replacing wheel bearings is relatively simple, it is both labor intensive and requires certain equipment to ensure that it is done properly. Our mechanics here at Feldman Auto Center specialize in both of these departments, which ensures that your wheel bearings can be replaced reliably and affordably

Feel free to give us a call at 812-663-2886 to schedule an appointment for a FREE tire and wheel inspection. Check out the Tires page here on our website for more information about our complete tire services.