Car tires are the part of the car that receives the most damage with use, as they are in direct contact with the road. Over time, car tires will wear down as the rubber and treads are worn away, which means that the tires will no longer grip the road as well as they should, which can be a safety hazard. Replacing tires, however, can be expensive. Thankfully, if you want to extend the lifespan of your car's tires, there are a number of things that you can do.

Tire Pressure: If your tires are not properly inflated, they will come into greater contact with the road, which means that they will wear away much faster and be much less effective at gripping the road. Additionally, under or over inflated tires will wear unevenly, which means that one part of the tire will wear very quickly, while the other parts do not, significantly shortening the lifespan of the tire in question. You should check your tire pressure every other time you fill up your car for consistency. You can find the correct pressure for your tires printed on the tire itself.

Driving Habits: Accelerating or braking rapidly will obviously put more stress on your tires than driving normally will, which will damage your tires and burn away the rubber. Accelerating smoothly and braking with ample space is an easy and everyday habit that you can easily get yourself into that can greatly prolong the lifespan of your tires.

Rotate the Tires: It's recommended that you rotate, or switch your tires from the front axle to the rear axle after 5,000 miles, because tires in the back wear in different areas than tires in the front. By rotating your tires from axle to axle, you can take advantage of unworn areas on each tire, greatly extending their lifespan. Keep in mind that if one of your tires is already dangerously worn, it is not recommended to rotate it.

Check for Damage: Perhaps the most obvious, yet also the most important, step in extending your tire's lifespan is to check for damage regularly, at least once a week. Debris on the road is surprisingly common, and it can severely damage your tires. A cut or stabbed tire may break with continued use, and should be replaced or serviced as soon as it is noticed. If you notice damage on any of your tires, take your car into a mechanic, such as Brach's Auto Center Inc., as soon as possible, and avoid driving on the damaged tire as much as you can.