ever wondered why NASCAR and Formula 1 make a big deal about tires that's because nothing ruins a good drive like these car tire mistakes most people make stick around and I'll share a bonus tip to make your tires last longer and save you money mistake number one buying cheap tires cheap tires are trash they degrade quickly are more prone to punctures and have poor Traction highquality tires can better handle mistakes like overloading and off-roading some drivers think budget tires are fine if they drive cautiously but even careful driving can't prevent the risk of blowouts or
poor handling especially in extreme conditions mistake number two neglecting the spare tire just because your spare tire sits in the trunk doesn't mean it's in perfect shape rubber breaks down over time even if it's never used so if your spare is a few years old it might not be as reliable as you think regularly check your spare for wear and note its age mistake number three skipping tire rotation front tires wear out faster because they carry the engine's weight that's why rotating them every 5,000 m helps them last longer worn front tires also make acceleration
harder you'll end up using more fuel and putting extra stress on the engine some manufacturers suggest keeping your best tires on the rear for better stability especially in wet conditions mistake number four overlooking wheel offset an incorrect offset can make your wheels sit too far in or too far out this causes uneven tire wear and over time can even damage your suspension to get a safe flush fit always check the recommended offset for your cars make and model mistake number five ignoring rim and tire compatibility if you're thinking of upsizing rims watch for suspension strain
larger rims or staggered setups can put stress on your car suspension misfitting rims may also rub against the brakes causing wear before making changes check that the new rims are compatible with your vehicle mistake number six relying on Old Tires new tires cost a pretty penny so it's tempting to keep rolling on the old ones until the Treads hanging by a thread but here's a shocker tires have an expiration date you'll find it in the D number on the sidewall which tells you when they were made from there you've got about 10 years Max now
most manufacturers suggest changing tires after 6 years why because rubber doesn't age like fine wine it crumbles making old tires way less reliable legally you can drive on them until the Treads down to 1.6 mm but only if you're still in that 10-year window halfway through but we're just getting into the good stuff mistake seven forgetting regular tire pressure checks it's easy to wait until your car warns you about a problem right but that's like only brushing your teeth when someone says your breath stinks the same goes for the tire pressure light tires lose about
1 psi each month but that little drop won't trigger the warning light until it hits the minimum so if your tires are overinflated or under inflated you've got trouble your brakes don't work right handling gets sloppy you waste Fuel and worst of all you're risking a blowout mistake number eight skipping wheel alignment did you know that bad wheel alignment can cut your tires life in half an alignment every 2 to 3 years costs about $200 for all four wheels but replacing tires that go bad in 3 years instead of six can cost you $200 each
so that alignment could save you around $600 in repairs hang tight and I'll reveal The Telltale sign your wheels are craving an alignment moving on mistake number nine using incorrect tire size using the wrong siiz tires is a financial and safety hazard for starters wrong tires increase the stress on the car's suspension you also have less control while driving and it reduces the the after sale value of your car how you ask smaller tires will show higher odometer readings thus registering a higher mileage than reality mistake number 10 mixing different types of tires now nobody
following my channel would do this but just in case mixing run Flats with regular tires or using different Tire ratings is a recipe for disaster the tires wear out unevenly and the ride gets wobbly worst case it could lead to an accident mistake number 11 selecting the wrong speed rating every tire comes with a speed rating this rating tells you its maximum safe speed you'll see it on the side wall next to the size speed ratings range from B to Z so check yours going over this limit can cause the tire to overheat making handling
harder always check your car's manual for the correct rating dealers will usually recommend the right one but it's smart to double check especially if you're into performance driving mistake number 12 overloading the vehicle this one is a two-part problem first using tires with a low load rating second hauling too much weight even if the tires are rated right underinflated or overloaded tires make driving unstable you'll burn more fuel and the handling will feel off but there's an even bigger risk overloading causes heat to build up in the tires that heat can cause the tread to
separate from the tire belt this is a serious accident risk always match the right tire load rating to your needs and keep it light if possible mistake number 13 choosing tires unsuited for the road swapping tires every season can be a hassle but it's much worse to lose traction on the road or even worse to crash into another car if nothing else think about all- weather tires they're a good choice for mild climates but if you live with harsh Winters you need winter tires let's talk about your driving habits do you drive at high speeds
often then performance tires are a great fit they're made to handle speed better or if you're on rugged terrain off-road tires are the way to go custom wheels and flashy colors might look good but quality matters more than appearance tires with good traction keep you safe so always choose safety over style mistake number 14 not having a portable tire inflator unless you have run Flats portable air compressors will save you time and possibly a toe this is crucial if you don't have a spare tire drive on a road with loads of potholes or do a
lot of off-roading even if you have a spare changing a tire on the side of the road isn't fun especially in extreme weather conditions portable tire inflators are fairly inexpensively worth it mistake number 15 buying wheels and tires separately let's talk about bundling a big mistake people make is buying wheels and tires separately at first it might seem like a good idea to test fit the wheels before you buy tires but here's the deal buying them separately usually costs more companies often offer discounts when you bundle them together saving you serious Cash Plus bundling often
includes mounting and balancing which you'd pay extra for if you bought separately and it's not just about saving money if you're planning a stretch Tire setup buying tires separately can lead to headaches many local shops won't even Mount stretch tires why they see it as unsafe or too difficult to install even if they agree your wheels could get scratched during the process another thing to consider is fitment errors when you bundle the tires are guaranteed to fit the wheels properly reducing the risk of mistakes and you'll save yourself from the hassle of waiting for separate
deliveries which can delay your installation here's the bottom line bundling your wheels and tires saves money avoids fitment errors and skips the Judgment at the shop companies that offer packages handle everything for you so you can drive off with no issues mistake number 16 relying on visual ual inspections for tire pressure using your eyes to check tire pressure is a mistake too many drivers make tires can look fine but still be underinflated or overinflated did you know a tire can lose up to 20% of its pressure without looking flat visual checks just don't cut it
here's the thing tire pressure changes with temperature that's why it's so important to check your tires when they're cold like first thing in the morning or after your car has been parked for a few hours if you check them after driving the heat causes the air to expand giving you a false reading adjusting the pressure based on that hot reading can leave your tires underinflated once they cool down underinflated tires wear faster waste Fuel and increase the risk of blowouts overinflated tires reduce traction and cause uneven tread wear making your ride less stable neither is
good for your safety or your budget the fix is easy use a tire pressure gauge and check your tires monthly when they're cold skip the guesswork this small habit gives you better handling saves money on fuel and keeps you safe on the road it's worth those extra few minutes mistake number 17 neglecting to regularly inspect tire tread depth let's talk about tire tread it's one of those things drivers often Overlook but it's critical for safety your tire tread is what grips the road especially in wet or slippery conditions if it's worn down your tires lose
traction that means a higher risk of hydroplaning longer braking distances and less control when you need it most here's a quick way to check it grab a penny and place it into the tread Groove with Lincoln's head facing down if you can see the top of his head your tread is too low and it's time for new tires if you want something more precise use a tread depth gauge they're easy to find and simple to use but checking tread depth isn't just about safety it can also save you money worn Treads cause uneven wear which
can mean alignment or suspension issues catching these early prevents bigger problems down the line Plus Tires with good tread improve fuel efficiency and last longer so make it a habit to check your tread every couple of months or before long trips it's a quick easy step that keeps you safer and your car running smoothly all right so here's the secret bonus tip use an aerospace grade Tire conditioner now you're probably wondering what's so special about that well unlike regular Tire cleaners these conditioners do more than just make your tires look good they protect them from
UV damage cracking and even curb wear this is the same formula used on airplane tires to withstand extreme conditions applying it every few weeks especially in hot weather or if you park outside can be a real game Cher as promised here's how to tell if your wheels need alignment a steering wheel shift at high speeds uneven tire wear or a pull to one side all demand attention now that you know how to avoid these common car tire mistakes take it a step further watch my video 11 car maintenance tips mechanics don't want you to know
for pro secrets to save cash and keep your car in top shape
