Your resource to learn about tire care

Make it a habit to regularly check your tires

The simple way to get the most out of your tires is to check them monthly for damage, proper inflation and for even treadwear. Proper maintenance will improve fuel economy, keep you safer, and ensure that your tires last longer.

Check for tire damage

The safety of you and your passengers is important. That’s why it is wise to check the general condition of your tires, looking especially for tire damage. If anything looks unusual – cracks, knots, bulges, slices, or punctures – have your tires inspected immediately at your local Duraturn dealer.

Check your tire inflation

Make sure you are driving your vehicle with properly inflated tires. This will make driving safer and will save you money by improving the fuel economy of your vehicle and increasing the life of your tires. Improper tire inflation is also dangerous. Under-inflation can result in unusual stress on a tire’s structure and irregular wear. Over-inflation also leads to uneven tire wear.

A tire may be underinflated and still not look flat. That’s why it’s important to check tire pressure at least once a month. Get a quality tire gauge and check air pressure when the tires are cold, because tires heat up when your vehicle has been operated. It is important to also note that irregular wear is also caused by unbalanced and misaligned tires.

Regularly rotate your tires

Getting your tires rotated regularly will save money by adding life to your tires. Our limited warranty recommends rotating your tires every 6,000 – 8,000 miles. Tire rotation will lengthen the life of your tires by helping them to wear more uniformly. Check your vehicle’s manual or consult your Duraturn tire dealer about how the tires should be rotated.

Check your wheel alignment

A bad jolt to your wheels, such as hitting a curb or driving over a pothole can cause the front wheels to go out of alignment. This will cause your tires to wear unevenly, will damage them and cause them to wear out more quickly. Have your Duraturn tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.

Have your wheels properly balanced

When a wheel is unbalanced, it can lead to irregular wear and shorten the life of your tire. If you are feeling vibration in the steering wheel when you drive, have your Duraturn dealer check to see if your wheels need balanced.

Pay attention to your environment

There are many things to be mindful of while driving, but there are two situations to pay particular attention to. Poor driving conditions increase the chance of accidents, especially driving in wet conditions and on ice and snow.

Wet conditions and hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is the word used to describe what happens when car tires skid on a wet surface. It occurs when a tire encounters more water than it can push away. The tire becomes separated from the road surface by a thin film of water, losing traction, and the ability to stop and steer.

Your tire tread has grooves to channel the water in order to maintain constant contact with the road surface and minimize hydroplaning. When tires become worn, their ability to push water away and resist hydroplaning is diminished. Additionally, the deeper the water on the road, the less ability a tire has to push it away.

A few pointers on how to avoid hydroplaning:

1. Keep tires properly inflated
2. Replace worn tires
3. Slow down when the road is wet
4. Avoid braking hard
5. Avoid making sharp or quick turns

Ice and snow and the M+S rating

All-season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow than tires that are not all-season. On the sidewalls of your all-season Duraturn tires you will see the letters M+S, and they mean Mud and Snow. Still it is important to change your driving habits in snow and icy conditions.

A few habits for safer winter driving:

1. Keep tires properly inflated
2. Replace worn tires
3. Slow down when the road is icy, wet or when it is snowing
4. Avoid braking hard and increase stopping distance
5. Avoid making sharp or quick turns