Tires seem so simple, don’t they? But in fact, even on a sunny summer day, those black rubber doughnuts are a vital part of your car that need care to keep you rolling safely down the road. Let’s take a quick look at the Techfacts of Tire Care:

FACT:  Each tire places a footprint on the road only a bit larger than your palm! Your four tireprints are the only parts of your car that touch the road. And those four rubber palm-sized prints in turn, are the “pawprints” that keep you on the road. So tires are a vital part of your car’s safety and performance engineering.

FACT: Tires need four critical forms of care, called the “BAIR”. Our technicians are taught the acronym “BAIR” to help them remember the types of care that all tires need. That stands for four elements Balance, Alignment, Inflation, and Rotation. All four need periodic checking, which is why we at the dealership are here. Luckily, the most important form of care—tire inflation pressure—you can do yourself.

FACT: You can save more than $400 a year with proper tire care. How? Just make a habit of periodically doing what pilots do before every flight—a quick “preflight checking” of your vehicle so tire pressures are at the factory recommended values. Underinflation by a mere 5 psi can increase your fuel consumption by 5%, and increase tire wear by up to 10 percent.

Hence, checking for correct tire pressures every couple of weeks could save the average driver (someone who drives 18,000 km a year) $200-$400 a year in fuel, and another $30 in tire tread. Congratulations—you just saved enough for an overnight getaway for two!

FACT: Tires breathe! Tire pressures aren’t constant. Almost all tires lose a tiny bit of air each day. But tire pressures also rises on hot days and after you’ve been driving for a while (remember, hot air expands). So check tire pressure before driving off. 

FACT: Tires rest at night! Drive your car home, switch off the ignition, and your tires cool down with one side pressed against the pavement. They can then take a set after sitting for even an evening and hence be very slightly out of round the next morning. So your car may feel a bit “lumpy” as you pull out of the driveway. Give the tires a chance to warm up, and that lumpiness should smooth out in a kilometre or so. If it doesn’t, call us and we’ll help resolve the issue.

FACT: We’re tire experts, and we’re here for you. Questions? Call our Service Department—we’d be glad to explain more, or to check your car over.