We all have to replace our tires at some point… theoretically… in the very distant future. It always feels like the distant future, right? I kind of think of my tires as a static thing – like, they’re there but they’re not really THERE. I have a vague idea of what they are and what they do and that I am, in fact, supposed to replace them every so often, but there’s never a fully formed idea of what I am actually supposed to be doing about that. So, if you feel the same way, keep reading. Let’s get our acts together and talk about tires.

Okay, so, you are supposed to be replacing your tires every five years at the earliest. That’s so long – I mean, you could give birth to a child and it’d be in kindergarten by the time you need to replace the tires you bought before the kid was born. Just think about that! So understandably a lot of us forget about the tire stuff. Of course, your dealer will have their own recommendations about how often you should replace your tires – maybe it’s every ten years, or maybe you’ve contributed somehow to their decline in health. Regardless, you should be making sure that your tires are still doing well and have tread left. This is really easy to do with a penny – just stick the penny into your tread with Lincoln’s head facing directly down. If you can see the top of his head, you should replace your tires ASAP.

There are a lot of factors that go into your tires’ lifespans and how long (or short) they might be. Some things that you can do to shorten your tires’ lives are to not properly inflate them, to drive hard and take corners hard, and to do a LOT of braking. Some good ways to counter these are by checking your tire pressure at least once a month, taking corners at a reasonable speed, and to slowly approach stops so that you’re not slamming on the brakes. You should also get your tires rotated every time you get your vehicle serviced. The weight distribution in your vehicle can affect the wear patterns on your tires, as can your vehicle’s alignment (so, yep, get your vehicle’s alignment checked as well).

Replacing tires is an expensive prospect, sure, but a lot of dealerships have consistent coupons or deals on tire replacement. For example, Galles Chevrolet has a lot of tire related deals on until August 31st! These include a 50% off tire rotation and brake inspection coupon, a free alignment, battery, and tire tread check (you don’t even have to buy anything!), and a 30-day price match on tires – this means that if you replace your tires and see someone else selling them for cheaper, let the folks at Galles Chevy know and they’ll refund the difference. Seriously, these deals are awesome and they’ll help you keep your vehicle as healthy and driving as well as possible. How could you say no?