Our Tire Maintenance Guide
Your tires are the most important safety component of your vehicle. As the means in which your vehicle is connected to the road, your tires need to be dependable in all driving situations and conditions to safely get you from point A to B. Proper tire care can ensure your tires last for the maximum mileage lifespan as possible, saving you on the cost-of-replacement down the road, all while providing you peace of mind behind the wheel. Here are some tips we recommend you follow and take note of when it comes to the health of your tires.
Tread Wear
It is always good practice to keep track of the wear on your tire treads on a monthly basis. Ideally, your treads should be evenly worn throughout the whole tire, with no noticeable differences and variations through the tread pattern. Tread is an important factor for tires, as tread is what keeps your vehicle gripped to the road, especially in winter with winter-tire treads having improved grip and traction patterns. Significant tread wear is a safety concern, as well as a potential indicator that your vehicle needs a wheel alignment or tire rebalancing.
Tread Measurements
Here are some general measurements that are standard indicators of tread health and safety, and can help you identify if they need to be replaced. Measurements can easily be found utilizing a simple tire depth gauge that can be found at local stores, or used by our service team.
- 6/32” or greater means your tires are in excellent condition
- 5/32” means your tires may not perform as intended in wet or slippery conditions
- 3/32” - 4/32” means you should replace your tires very soon in the near future
- 2/32” indicates your tires are legally bald and that replacement is required immediately
What Vehicle Problems Cause Tread Wear?
It’s important to always check to ensure all tires are wearing out evenly across all four tires. If any wear appears to be uneven in position and depth across the tires, that may be an indicator of a more significant issue. Here are some key indications that you may have an undiagnosed issue with your vehicle.
- Wear on Both Edges: Potentially underinflated tires, ensure proper inflation and check for leaks
- Wear on One Edge: Potential poor wheel-alignment, visit our service department
- Wear Only in Centre: Overinflated tires, decrease tire pressure to manufacturer-suggested PSI
- Uneven Wear: likely unbalanced or unaligned tires, visit our service department
- Saw-Tooth Pattern Wear: Poor alignment, visit our service department
- High-Pitch Squealing when Turning: Poor alignment and/or underinflated tire
Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is simple to monitor and very important to maintaining the proper expected lifespan of your tires. Always ensure that your tires are inflated to their manufacturer-suggested PSI, as that will help your tires last for their expected lifespan. Your tire pressure can be easily monitored in your new or recent model year Buick or GMC vehicle, equipped with Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems that can show you your tire pressures from the comfort of the driver's seat. Check your tire pressure regularly, and contact our Whitby vehicle service department if you suspect leaks or other irregularities.
We recommend checking your tires on a weekly basis ideally, or monthly basis at the minimum. Weekly tire checks can lead to a safer driver experience in the long-term, and can help give you key indicators when more significant issues are occurring with your vehicle, before they become dangerous. Stay on top of your Buick or GMC vehicle’s maintenance thanks to our Maintenance Schedule here at Gus Brown in Whitby, and book your service appointment with us to keep every aspect of your vehicle in top working condition.