While gas prices are much cheaper than they have been in the recent past, it is still a good idea to practice ways you can improve your gas mileage. One of the best ways to make your gas mileage better is to take good care of your tires. Here are three ways that you can improve your mileage by focusing exclusively on your car's tires.

Inflate your tires to the maximum recommended tire pressure

While it isn't good practice to grossly overinflate your tires, if you increase your tire pressure from the minimum recommended pressure (typically 30 pounds per square inch (psi)) to the maximum recommended pressure (typically 35 psi), you can increase your gas mileage because less tire comes in contact with the road. As less tire is in contact with the road, the resistance is less and the car is able to move forward with less force. 

When seasons change, your tires can often lose some of their air. This is especially noticeable when temperatures go from warm to cold. This is a result of cold air being denser than warm air. When temperatures start to change, check your tires' air pressure and add air as appropriate to bring them back to the proper pressure.

Inspect your tires for road hazard damage

It can be difficult to know if your tires have a slow air leak. Because every additional psi matters, check your tire pressure on a periodic basis to make sure that it is at the appropriate level. Do a quick physical inspection at least monthly to make sure that you don't have a screw, nail, or other road hazard stuck in your tire. Because these hazards often blend in to the rubber, it may not be possible to see them with your eyes. Rub your hands over the surface of your tires to see if you can feel anything that might be causing a slow leak. If there is something, take it into a repair shop to get it sealed and fixed.

Replace balding tires

Balding tires can be a safety hazard, but they also can cause your gas mileage to get worse. This is because as the tread wears down, more rubber touches the road. The effect is the same as if your tires were underinflated. When your tire tread is shallower than 2/32 inch, take it into a tire center at your earliest convenience in order to keep safe and keep your gas mileage up.

As you follow these three tire tips, you'll find that you use less gas when you drive.