Many drivers only think about tire maintenance when a dashboard light turns on. By this point, it’s often already too late. You might have a flat, be wearing your wheels out unnecessarily due to low tire pressure, or only wearing out one side. Tire wear can also pollute our storm water with heavy metals and microplastics. While tire wear and tear is inevitable, there are several ways that you can be proactive and prolong their life to save you money and decrease auto waste. Simple tire care tips can help Hawaiʻi drivers protect their cars and our island environment.
Check your tire pressure regularly.
Keeping your tires at the right pressure is one of the easiest ways to help them last. Low pressure wears tires out faster and burns more gas because they canʻt spin as efficiently. When pressure is too high, the tires wear unevenly. A quick pressure check once a month keeps everything running smoothly and helps reduce excess tire wear that turns into debris and pollution on our roads.
Rotate your tires regularly.
On Oʻahu, we do a lot of stop-and-go driving. The constant braking wears out tires faster than steady highway driving. To ensure your tires wear evenly, rotate them every 3,000-4,000 miles, or every six to eight months. Regular rotations keep your tires in similar condition, so you can replace them at the same time.
Watch the size of your loads.
While today’s cars, SUVs and trucks carry a lot, overloading your vehicle puts extra strain on your tires. Staying within the weight limit helps prevent unnecessary wear.
Keep an eye on your tread.
Here in Hawaiʻi, rain often appears out of nowhere. Good tire tread helps your car grip wet roads and climb up steep hills. Low or uneven tread increases the risk of blowouts and hydroplaning. Plan for new tires once your tread is down to 4/32 inch. At 2/32 inch, replace them as soon as possible. To check your tire depth, you can use an upside down quarter and a penny! If the tire tread touches Washington’s head on the quarter, your tread is at 4/32 inch. If you can view all of Lincoln’s head on the penny, your tires have less than 2/32 inch of tread remaining and it’s time to plan for new tires.
While tires are built to be durable and last from six to 10 years, small steps like checking tire pressure, watching your load, and tracking tread make a big difference. These tips help your tires last longer, reduce auto waste, keep you safe on the road, and protect our environment.
Source: Blue Gray Towing, Discount Tire, Wear and Tear of Tyres: A Stealthy Source of Microplastics in the Environment,