Being a customer of a reputable tire shop means that whenever your tires reach the point that they're no longer providing you with the traction you need, you simply need to schedule an appointment and have new tires mounted. While new tires will help you stop quickly and maintain control of your vehicle on slippery road conditions, you want to be sure that your driving habits don't cause your tires to wear out more quickly than they should. Here are three simply ways to help increase the life of your tires.

Avoid Driving In Rush Hour

Driving during rush hour is an easy way to shorten the life of your tires, given that you're constantly stopping; each time you stop, the friction is causing the tread on your tires to diminish. As such, it's beneficial if you're able to avoid driving during rush hour as much as possible. This might not always be attainable, but there are a number of strategies you can use to reduce your exposure to these conditions. During the workweek, for example, consider taking public transit instead of commuting by car. If you live outside the city, you might also benefit from driving to the city's outskirts and then taking a bus the rest of the way to minimize your exposure to rush hour.

Don't Tailgate

Tailgating can cause you to wear out your tire treads prematurely. This form of aggressive driving often leads you to hit your brakes repeatedly, which causes a tiny amount of tire wear each time you slow your speed. Additionally, if the motorist traveling ahead of you applies his or her brakes hard because of a change in the road conditions or as a reaction to traffic, you'll need to brake suddenly to avoid an accident, which can cause your tires to skid. Increase your following interval and you'll find yourself braking less and helping your tires last longer.

Maintain The Right Inflation

Driving on tires that aren't inflated enough or that are too inflated will wear out the treads prematurely. The simple solution to avoid this problem is to familiarize yourself with the correct inflation level – in most cases, it's around 30 pounds per square inch of pressure. Use a gauge to check your pressure every time you fill up your vehicle with gas and add or remove air with the air pump at the gas station if it's needed.

For more information, contact a company like PDR Automotive Inc.

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