Without tires, your car isn’t getting far, so it’s important to keep them in good condition. But there’s more to your tires than just rubber. Wilson Tire & Auto in Nashville walks you through some of the most important parts of your vehicle’s tire system, and what makes them so important.
Tires
First and foremost are the tires themselves, meaning the actual round, rubber wheels. Their importance feels fairly obvious, as this is the part that actually touches the road, providing the grip and traction that allows drivers to accelerate, steer, and brake.
Importance of Tires
Having the right tires on your car and keeping them well maintained will make your drives safer. A good tire has better grip on the road, keeping you safe in dangerous weather conditions and on tricky roadways, all while making the ride more smooth and comfortable for you. On top of that, tires in good condition can improve fuel efficiency, since your engine won’t have to work as hard to propel you forward. The best way to keep your tires in top condition is with regular maintenance. This includes regular inspections, annual rotations, and monthly air pressure checks.
Types of Tires
When looking for the best tire for your car, the first step is finding the correct size. The tire experts at Wilson Tire & Auto are happy to help with this, but you can also find the number in your owner’s manual, on the inside of the driver’s side door, or on the sidewall of your previous tire. From there, look for a tire that best suits your driving needs. All Season tires work well for most vehicles, but Winter or Snow tires are better for those frequently dealing with winter weather. Summer tires are great for hot or rainy roads, and All-terrain wheels are meant for four-wheel drive vehicles who want to off-road on occasion. Find the tire that’s right for you.
Alignment
When wheels are properly aligned on your vehicle, it means that the angles of their steering and suspension have been corrected. Essentially, alignment means that your vehicle’s wheels are lined up correctly, and not sitting at odd angles to the car.
Importance of Alignment
Tires can become misaligned — knocked to an odd angle — much more easily than you think; it can happen by just hitting a pothole at the wrong angle, or slowly over time. However, having misaligned wheels can have significant effects on your driving. Misalignment can cause your car to pull to one side or fight your steering, making handling difficult and driving dangerous. Additionally, with your tire running at an angle, the tread will wear down unevenly, requiring replacement sooner, and costing you more. To prevent these issues, we recommend getting a tire alignment at least once a year as part of your routine maintenance, and any time your car has any kind of notable impact, especially if you start to notice steering issues afterward.
Rims
Tire rims are the metal ring that fills the inner ring of the rubber tire. Their make up and size is usually determined by the type of car they are on to ensure they provide the most efficiency.
Importance of Rims
Rims are metal wheels that slot inside the rubber tires to keep them in their full ring shape. Without the rim, tires would squish out of their donut shape under the weight of any car no matter their air pressure. The stability of the rim keeps the vehicle’s weight evenly distributed, preventing blowouts and keeping wear even.
Types of Rims
Rims are made from a few different metals: primarily steel and alloys. The type of metal used will determine the cost, durability, weight, and even appearance, to an extent, though most can be coated in another finish for aesthetics — polished, matte, or chrome finishes, for example.
Steel
Steel is a cheaper rim option and is known for being sturdy. However, it’s heavy and a bit clunky, meaning the rims could lead to the car being a bit more difficult to handle, so it is generally used for spare tires or low-cost cars these days.
Aluminum Alloy
Aluminum alloy is the most common rim type, as it gives a good balance of strength and durability to weight and cost. This alloy is used on most vehicles.
Magnesium Alloy
Magnesium alloy is a very light material, making it useful for fuel efficiency and high performance. While rare on general-use cars due to its susceptibility to corrosion, magnesium alloy is useful for sports and racing cars.
Important Upkeep
These three aspects of your vehicle’s tires are crucial to driving safely, so it’s important to stay aware of their condition. Stay up to date on routine maintenance like annual alignments and monthly air pressure checks. Have your tires inspected during your oil changes at Wilson Tire & Auto. And if you’re ever unsure about something your tires are doing, stop by. Our expert technicians will take a look and answer any questions you may have.
