May 05, 2025 2 min read
Underinflated tires wear faster, kill your MPG, and run hotter than they should. Overinflated? Say hello to center tread wear. You want to hit that sweet spot printed on your door jamb.
Tool You’ll Need:
AstroAI Digital Tire Pressure Gauge (Amazon) – Easy-to-read, accurate, and cheap insurance for your rubber.
Tires wear unevenly based on drive wheels and weight distribution. Regular rotation evens that out. Do it with every oil change if you want to keep it simple.
Optional Tool:
Torin Big Red 2-Ton Jack Stands (Amazon) – If you’re doing this at home, don’t screw around with safety.
Most people wait until their car drifts across a lane before booking an alignment. That’s too late. Slight misalignments eat your tires from the edges inward. I recommend checking alignment once a year or any time you hit a pothole hard.
Tool for DIY-Checkers:
QuickTrick DIY Alignment Kit (Amazon) – Not essential, but damn helpful if you’re hands-on and curious.
If your ride starts to hum or vibrate at speed, your tires may be out of balance. That shakes the tread to death. Get them rebalanced when needed.
Pro Tip: Use a trusted tire shop with a road force balancer if you want precision.
Use a gauge, not your eyeballs. You want even tread depth across the whole tire. Inner or outer wear means trouble (usually alignment or suspension).
Tools You’ll Need:
GEARWRENCH Digital Tread Depth Gauge (Amazon) – Simple and accurate.
Task | Frequency |
---|---|
Check tire pressure | Monthly |
Rotate tires | Every 5,000–7,000 miles |
Get alignment checked | Annually or after impacts |
Balance tires | When vibration starts or after rotation |
Measure tread depth | Quarterly |
Look — tires aren’t cheap. And I’m not in the business of wasting rubber. These tips aren’t theory; they’re straight from the shop floor. If you follow them, you won’t just get more miles — you’ll get safer handling and a better ride.
Want more real-world tips like this? Browse the blog, check out my other videos, and keep those wheels rolling.
Disclaimer: Some links in this post are affiliate links. That means I may earn a commission if you click and buy, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools I’ve used and trust.