What You Need To Understand About Vehicle Tires
Many cute sayings or idioms apply to vehicle tires, like “A lot is resting on your tires” or “where the rubber meets the road.” These are applicable, but you need to understand why they are so vital to your safety and the safety of your loved ones. First, consider that your entire vehicle and it’s entire weight are resting on your tires, as that is the only piece of the car, truck, or SUV that comes into contact with the ground. It supports the entire vehicle and is the only part that allows you to control the movement of the car on the surface of the road.
Second, although the average tire is quite large, standing knee-high for most people, only a very small portion of the tire is in contact with the road at any given time. This small area, known as the tire contact patch, is often no more than a rectangular area measuring approximately four by six inches. When all four tires are touching the road’s surface, there is less than 100 square inches of rubber keeping you in control of the vehicle and contact with the roadway. Therefore, it is crucial that the entire tire tread on each tire is in optimal condition to keep you safe.
Common Tire Safety Concerns
Low air pressure is a common issue that causes tires to wear more rapidly than necessary. The low air pressure allows the sides of the tire to bulge, can cause the tire to be cut when hitting a hole or imperfection in the road surface, and degrades the quality of the vehicle’s ride. Too much air in the tire is also hazardous as it decreases the size of the contact patch, increases the potential for tire damage when hitting a hole or object in the road, and can cause the vehicle ride to feel more bouncy and less smooth. Finally, tires with a worn tread pattern can cause the tire to rotate unevenly, decrease stopping capability as the tire will slide on the pavement instead of gripping when the brakes are applied, and decrease steering responsiveness due to the lack of grip on the road’s surface.
The Added Value Of Howell GMC Tire Service
When you visit the Howell GMC service department for a tire inspection, our team will ensure the tires on your vehicle are appropriately inflated, have an acceptable amount of tread left, and that there is no damage to the tread or sidewalls of the tires. In addition, each time your vehicle is in for service at Howell GMC, our pros will evaluate the tread wear and check the air pressures to provide you with helpful information regarding the life left in the tires and when to consider a replacement set. Our only purpose in providing this valuable information is to ensure the safety of our extended Howell GMC family and their loved ones.
