Your tires are some of the most important components of your car. As the only point of contact between your car and the road, it’s critical to make sure they’re in good shape. No one wants to get stranded because of a flat tire. Here are five tips on how to prevent a flat tire on the road.
How to prevent flat tires on car: 5 tips
Pressure check
Flat tire prevention starts with keeping your tires in good shape. Get in the habit of checking your tire pressure regularly, preferably once a month. Consult your door jamb placard or owner’s manual for the correct pressure. To get an accurate reading, measure the tire pressure when the tires have cooled down. Wait until the car has been unused for at least three hours. The best time to do this might be in the morning before you head out. To make this task easy, get a tire pressure gauge and keep it in the glove box.
When you check your tire pressure, be sure to put the valve stem covers back on or replace any missing ones. These prevent debris from clogging up your valve stems, which may cause problems sealing and let air out in the future.
Driving on tires with improper pressure can reduce your gas mileage. Overinflated or underinflated tires can even cause handling issues when driving.
Tread wear
Carefully examine the treads on your tires for uneven wear patterns. Uneven wear can cause weak spots in your tires, and increase the chance for a puncture or blow out.
If the tire is overinflated, you may see the treads are deeper towards the edges. Conversely, your tires may be underinflated if the middle of the tire is deeper.
Make sure the treads overall are in good condition. A tread wear tool may be helpful to quickly measure how much life a tire has left. If you don’t have a tread wear tool, you can also use the penny test. Take a penny and place it in the tire tread groove, head-side down. Ideally, part of Lincoln’s head will be covered. If Lincoln’s entire head is showing, it may be time to start thinking about a new tire.
While you’re at it, clean out foreign objects like glass and stones from the treads. These can lead to uneven wear and to tire issues down the road.
When replacing tires, it’s best to replace all of the tires at once. This helps prevent uneven wear in the future. In addition, consider rotating your wheels when you get an oil change, and have your suspension aligned. This will also prevent uneven wear.
Tire age
Even if your tires still have tread left, the rubber itself will degrade over time and become weak. It’s not recommended to drive on tires older than about six years. An old tire is not only more susceptible to punctures and blow outs, it will also have diminished gripping capabilities and can be dangerous to drive on.
To figure out the age of your tire, look for a four digit number on the sidewall. This is the time code. The first two digits indicate the week of the year it was manufactured. The last two digits indicate the year. For example, a tire with the time code 1020 was made in the tenth week of 2020.
Watch the weight
The weight of a vehicle can have a significant impact on the tires. Avoid overloading your car by checking the door jamb label or owner’s manual for the maximum load.
When towing a trailer, don’t forget that some of the weight of the trailer will load up your vehicle as well.
Avoid potholes
If you don’t inflate your tires properly, hitting a pothole can cause damage to them. When your tires are underinflated, they may blow out when hitting a pothole. If they’re overinflated, there is an increased chance of a rigid impact because the tires are harder. This could damage tire or suspension components, which may lead to tire problems down the road if they’re not addressed.
Stay alert for potholes, especially after a severe weather event. If you can’t avoid a pothole, drive over it as slowly as possible. Don’t brake hard into it, though. The load transfer from slamming on the brakes can actually increase the possibility of damage. If possible, gradually reduce your speed into the pothole and keep two hands on the wheel to maintain control.
Eliminate unnecessary wear and tear on your tires by avoiding unpaved or damaged roads when possible. Stay alert for construction areas, as loose hardware can easily puncture a tire when you drive through them.
Conclusion: How to prevent a flat tire
Your tires are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. That’s why it’s so important to keep them in good condition. Follow the above tips to keep your tires in top shape and drive with confidence. Good tires are not only safer, but will save you money on fuel costs and repairs.
