Although there is no way to make your tires last forever, safe and careful driving can help reduce the chances of tire damage, wear, and even blowouts. Stay aware on the road and avoid these five things tires hate.
Avoid rubbing the curb while parking.
The shoulders and side walls of an automobile tire are less durable than the tread area because they are not protected by tread blocks or a steel belt. If you scrape the sides of your tires along a curb while parallel parking, you can quickly shorten the life of them, potentially causing a flat tire due to air escaping abrasions in this vulnerable part of the tire. Continually bumping into curbs when parking diagonally can also damage the shoulders and sidewalls of a tire quickly by wearing the rubber down.1
Just because your tires seem a little low on tire pressure doesn’t necessarily mean you have an impending flat tire. Changing temperatures can make your tire pressure fluctuate. Find out how to check your tire pressure here.
Stay away from potholes, especially the asphalt kind.
All potholes can damage your tires, but potholes on asphalt roads are the most destructive, even if you have brand new tires. The potholes on an asphalt-covered road have sharp, unforgiving edges. The rims of asphalt-road potholes force a tire to flex and stretch, which can cause abrasions, punctures, and tears, even when driving at low speeds. The greater the speed with which a driver hits these types of potholes, the greater the odds are of tire damage or a tire blowout occurring which could mean having to purchase a new set. 2
Don’t make sudden starts and stops.
Accelerating and stopping rapidly damages the treads of a tire more quickly than any other driving action. Breaking the surface tension between tires and the road creates tremendous friction that eats away at the treads. The more cautiously a driver accelerates and brakes, the longer the vehicle's tire treads will last.3
Be cautious on gravel-covered roads.
The three-quarter-inch rock on gravel-covered dirt roads is made of crushed quarry rock. It is sharp and jagged and does more damage to standard tires than almost any other driving surface does. If a vehicle is equipped with off-road tires, gravel-covered dirt roads are not a major concern, but tires designed for highway travel do not typically fare well on gravel roads. If you have to drive on gravel roads, drive slowly and carefully to best take care of your tires. 3
Safely avoid running over debris in the road.
Watch for falling items from vehicles ahead of you or other debris that may have ended up on the road. Things like tools, branches, and even roadkill can puncture your tire or wear it down unevenly. Scanning the road far ahead of you will give you room to stop or change lanes and safely avoid something that could cause a tire blowout. If you are unable to stop or change lanes, slow down and drive carefully while avoiding the hazard as much as you can.4
When it’s time to replace your tires, find a tire shop near you that accepts the Synchrony Car Care™ credit card and take advantage of promotional financing* on purchases of $199 or more. Find a location or apply here.
You can also use our tips on choosing the right tires for your vehicle here.
*Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. See merchant or mysynchrony.com/carcare for promotional financing details and merchant locations.