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What do your tires say about the way you drive? From bulging to cracking, these signs of tire wear all have an interesting story to tell. Your driving habits can lead to uneven friction on your wheels, causing them to weaken faster. Optimize your tires’ performance by breaking these bad driving habits.
Accelerating Off the Line
We all like to be the first person off the line at a green light, but did you know that fast acceleration and spinning your tires aren’t good for them? Getting the jump on your fellow driver isn’t worth replacing expensive tires. More than just risking the chance of an accident, if you routinely squeal your tires, you could be causing them damage.
Tires may turn in place before traction kicks in, and this spinning action is unmerciful on your tread. When driving in the city, avoid slamming down on your accelerator as you make your way through traffic to ensure your tires last as long as the manufacturer intended.
Cornering Too Fast
Your tire’s tread is the only thing that remains in direct contact with the road at all times. The intricate patterns on its surface serve a wide variety of functions. The faster you drive around corners, the harder your tires must work to keep you safely rooted to the road, so slow down.
This unnecessary force tears away at your tread, causing them to round at the shoulders. Take a look at your wheel straight on. If you notice any warping, high and low spots, and an oblong shape to your wheels, aggressive handling may be the cause. Take those winding roads at the posted speeds and make sure that your tires are properly inflated to help optimize the distribution of your vehicle’s load while cornering.
Last Minute Braking
Do your tires have more flat spots than a Kansas cornfield? Then chances are you have a heavy braking foot. Applying too much force on the brakes will lead to flat spots in your tread.
Stomping on the brakes at the last minute may cause them to lock up, skidding your car to a halt, especially during wet road conditions. This habit causes abnormal wear patterns and may even knock your vehicle out of alignment. According to expert automotive technicians, the key to proper alignment is to ensure the angle of your vehicle’s tires makes contact with the road.
Hitting the Curb
One of the most common reasons for tire tread wear is bouncing off curbs. Of course, we’ve all done it, but frequently striking obstacles or a pothole will affect the condition of your tires and can compromise the quality of your car’s handling. If you notice signs of wear including cracking, bulging or a feathering edge on one side of the tire’s shoulder, get your wheels checked right away.
Aggressive driving habits will quickly wear out your tread. Extend the lifetime of your tires with proper driving techniques. Ensure your tires safely grip the road, or you might find yourself treading on dangerous ground.
Image via Flickr by keightyfour
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