Your vehicle's tires are not something that you have installed and then forget about. They actually require a bit of maintenance over the years to keep them in good condition. Here are some tips for how you should maintain your vehicle's tires. 

Check The Air Pressure

Having the right amount of air pressure in your tires is critical to your safety and extend the lifespan of the tires. Having too much air in a tire can cause problems where the tire can burst while you are driving. This is due to the air expanding inside the tire when you are driving fast for long distances, and if the air has nowhere to go, the tire could burst. 

In addition, having too much air in a tire is going to cause the tire to bald at the center of the tire, which is where the tire will expand the most. Having too little air in the tire will cause it to wear out along the edges of the tire, as the edges take on the weight of the vehicle. It can also have an impact on the traction and stopping ability of the tires as well.

Check your owner's manual to find out the recommended air pressure for your tires. Be aware that the air pressure listed on the sidewall of the tires is the maximum amount you can put into a tire, but there will be a range of safe air pressure levels that the tires can be inflated to. 

Check For Damage

There are several types of damage you should check for on your tires. Start by checking for cracking and cuts along the sidewall of the tire, since those will be immediately noticeable. Tires that have hit potholes can also form bulges in the side of the tire as well. If you are losing air pressure, you may have a nail or other object stuck in the tire tread that is allowing air to escape. 

If there is damage to the sidewall of the tire, then there is no way to repair it. You'll need to have the tire replaced. However, punctures to the tread of the tire can be plugged to keep the tire working.

Get A Wheel Alignment

A wheel alignment will help make sure that the tires are in the correct position, which helps your vehicle drive better and avoid uneven wear. This is something that you cannot do on your own and will require taking your vehicle in to an auto shop for professional tire maintenance. Your vehicle will have calibration tools put on the wheels to ensure that they are all pointing and angled in the right direction for driving efficiency.