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How to Know When It’s Time for New Tires

 

Your vehicle’s tires play a crucial role in safety, fuel efficiency, and overall driving performance. Worn-out or damaged tires can lead to decreased traction, poor handling, and an increased risk of blowouts. Knowing when to replace your tires can help prevent accidents and ensure a smooth driving experience.

Signs That You Need New Tires

1. Tread Wear Beyond Safe Levels

The tread on your tires provides grip and traction, especially in wet or slippery conditions. If the tread depth is too low, your tires lose effectiveness.

  • How to Check: Use the penny test—insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is too low and the tires need replacing.

2. Cracks, Bulges, or Blisters

Visible cracks, bulges, or blisters on the sidewall of a tire indicate structural weakness. These deformities can cause a tire blowout if not replaced promptly.

3. Frequent Air Pressure Loss

If you constantly need to refill your tires with air, there may be a slow leak, puncture, or internal damage. Persistent pressure loss indicates it’s time for new tires.

4. Uneven Tread Wear

Uneven wear patterns may be caused by improper wheel alignment, unbalanced tires, or suspension issues. If you notice significant differences in tread depth, replacing the tires and addressing the underlying cause is necessary.

5. Excessive Vibration While Driving

Unusual vibrations while driving, especially at higher speeds, may signal tire imbalance, internal damage, or alignment problems. If balancing and alignment don’t resolve the issue, you likely need new tires.

6. Age of the Tires

Even if the tread appears fine, tires deteriorate over time due to exposure to heat, UV rays, and environmental factors.

  • Recommendation: Most manufacturers suggest replacing tires every 6 to 10 years, regardless of mileage.

7. Poor Handling or Traction in Wet Conditions

If your car slips or skids more often in rain or snow, your tires may not be providing adequate grip. Replacing them improves safety and handling.

How to Extend Tire Lifespan

  • Check tire pressure regularly to maintain proper inflation.

  • Rotate tires every 5,000-7,500 miles to ensure even wear.

  • Get wheel alignments when necessary to prevent uneven wear.

  • Avoid aggressive driving that causes premature tire degradation.

Final Thoughts

Tires are one of the most important components of your vehicle. Recognizing the signs of worn-out tires and replacing them in a timely manner enhances safety, improves fuel efficiency, and provides a smoother driving experience.

Need new tires? Visit our shop for professional tire inspection and replacement today!

 
[email protected]Vehicle Maintenance

How to Improve Your Gas Mileage & Save Money at the Pump

How to Improve Your Gas Mileage & Save Money at the Pump

With gas prices constantly fluctuating, getting the most out of every gallon is more important than ever. While you can’t control fuel costs, you can take steps to improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and save money at the pump. From proper maintenance to smart driving habits, here are some simple yet effective ways to maximize your gas mileage.

1. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

Underinflated tires create more rolling resistance, making your engine work harder and burning more fuel.

✅ Check your tire pressure monthly – Use a tire pressure gauge and compare the reading to your vehicle’s recommended PSI (found in the owner’s manual or on the driver’s side door frame).
✅ Inflate tires to the correct PSI – Overinflated or underinflated tires both reduce efficiency and wear unevenly.
✅ Rotate your tires regularly – This ensures even wear, which can improve traction and fuel economy.

🚗 Fuel savings: Properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by up to 3%.

2. Avoid Excessive Idling

Leaving your car running while parked wastes fuel unnecessarily.

❌ Idling for more than 30 seconds? Turn it off. Modern engines don’t need long warm-ups in cold weather—30 seconds is usually enough.
❌ Waiting in a drive-thru? Park and go inside. It’s often more fuel-efficient than sitting in line with the engine running.

🚗 Fuel savings: Cutting down on idling can save up to ½ gallon of fuel per hour.

3. Drive Smoothly & Avoid Aggressive Driving

Fast acceleration and sudden braking use more fuel than driving at a steady speed.

✔️ Accelerate gradually and smoothly.
✔️ Maintain a consistent speed whenever possible.
✔️ Avoid hard braking—coast to a stop when you can.

🚗 Fuel savings: Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage by up to 30% on highways and 40% in city driving.

4. Use Cruise Control on Highways

Maintaining a steady speed helps reduce fuel consumption.

🛣 Use cruise control when driving on flat highways to prevent unnecessary speed fluctuations.
⚠️ Turn it off on hilly terrain to avoid excessive fuel use from constant acceleration.

🚗 Fuel savings: Can improve gas mileage by up to 7% on highways.

5. Lighten Your Load & Reduce Drag

Carrying extra weight or using roof racks increases fuel consumption.

✅ Remove unnecessary items from your trunk or backseat—extra weight forces the engine to work harder.
✅ Ditch the roof rack when not in use—it creates drag and reduces aerodynamics.
✅ Keep windows closed at high speeds—open windows can create wind resistance, reducing efficiency.

🚗 Fuel savings: Every 100 lbs of extra weight can reduce fuel economy by 1%.

6. Stick to the Speed Limit

Fuel economy decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph.

🚦 Driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph can improve gas mileage by up to 15%.
🚦 Each 5 mph over 50 mph costs about $0.30 extra per gallon.

7. Keep Up with Routine Maintenance

A well-maintained vehicle runs more efficiently.

✔️ Regular oil changes – Use the manufacturer-recommended oil type.
✔️ Replace air filters – A clogged filter reduces fuel efficiency.
✔️ Check spark plugs – Worn-out plugs lead to poor combustion and wasted fuel.
✔️ Ensure fuel injectors are clean – Dirty injectors can reduce fuel economy.

🚗 Fuel savings: Proper maintenance can improve fuel efficiency by 4-10%.

8. Combine Trips & Plan Routes

Short trips and frequent starts use more fuel than combining errands into one trip.

✅ Plan ahead to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
✅ Use navigation apps to find the most fuel-efficient routes and avoid traffic congestion.

🚗 Fuel savings: Reducing cold starts can improve efficiency by 5%.

9. Consider Fuel-Efficient Driving Modes

If your car has an Eco Mode, use it to optimize fuel usage.

✔️ Eco Mode adjusts throttle response and transmission shifts for better efficiency.
✔️ Use the right fuel – Check your manual to see if premium gas is necessary. Using it unnecessarily won’t improve performance or mileage.

10. Don’t Rely on A/C & Heat Too Much

Both air conditioning and heating can put extra strain on your engine.

✔️ Use A/C sparingly – It reduces fuel efficiency, especially at lower speeds.
✔️ Defrost strategically – Excessive use of defrost can also impact mileage.
✔️ Use recirculation mode – This keeps cooled or heated air inside, reducing the need for more energy use.

🚗 Fuel savings: Reducing A/C use can save up to 10% on fuel.

Final Thoughts

Improving your gas mileage doesn’t require drastic changes—just smart habits and regular maintenance. By keeping your car in top shape, driving efficiently, and reducing unnecessary fuel use, you’ll save money at the pump and get more miles out of every tank.

⛽🚗 Looking for a tune-up or fuel system check? Contact Fox & Fox today for expert service!

 

 
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