Tire Maintenance: 6 Ways to Make Your Tires Last Longer

Tire Maintenance Tips

Want to make your tires last longer and improve fuel efficiency? Proper tire maintenance can boost performance and help you save money at the pump. Follow these six simple tips to extend the life of your tires and enjoy a smoother, more efficient ride.

1. Drive slow & steady

For some drivers, half the fun of having a sporty ride and premium tires is putting them to use. But driving slower and more consistently will help your tires last longer.

Aggressive acceleration, braking, and cornering—activities made all the more possible by today’s electronic driving systems—increase the stress your tires face, and, therefore, their lifespan.

“Today, even small city cars have a lot of power. Traction control systems and other similar functions have become more common. Drivers today rely even more on these systems, which increases the stress on the tires caused by driving. For example, cornering speeds may increase,” says Matti Morri, technical customer service manager, Nokian Tyres.

2. Rotate your tires

Rotating your tires helps ensure they last longer. By moving tires from one position to another (usually front to back), you equalize the tread wear since front tires tend to wear much more quickly than rear tires.

We recommend rotating tires every 8,000-12,000 kilometres and when you buy your tires at Kal, our Customer Care Plan includes free tire rotations every 8,000 km for the life of your tires.

3. Work/life and tire balancing

Ensuring your tires are balanced will help keep your tread wear even and save you money at the pump. Balancing your tires includes small wheel weights that technicians attach to your wheel to correct uneven weight distribution. Two ways your tires can become unbalanced are by washing your rims with a pressure washer or leaving your vehicle parked for extended periods.

When you buy your tires at Kal, free tire balancing is included in our Customer Care Plan for the life of your tires.

4. Wheel alignments

Despite its name, a wheel alignment is the adjustment of your suspension, which connects your vehicle to the wheels. As the journey to misalignment is often gradual, we recommend checking your wheel alignment every one to two years or sooner if you’ve:

  • Had an accident
  • Hit a pothole or curb
  • Replaced any suspension component.

If you live in a rural area and frequently drive on gravel roads or poor road conditions, you should get an inspection every tire changeover to understand the conditions of your suspension components.

Not getting an alignment will lead to uneven tread wear. Our certified technicians use sophisticated equipment to ensure an exact wheel alignment meets the manufacturer's specifications.

5. Check your tire pressure

Ensuring your tires are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI helps prevent premature tire wear from too much flexing and overloading. Properly inflated tires also improve handling and fuel economy because it takes less energy to make your tires roll.

Since temperature changes can alter your tire’s pressure, it’s important to check your tires’ PSI regularly. It’s also important to get into the habit of checking your tire pressure once a month or every time you fuel up. Learn how to check and inflate tires with our 5-step guide: How to Check Tire Pressure.  

6. Don’t weigh your tires down

Packing strategically can also help your tires last longer. By keeping heavy items in the trunk or hatch rather than the roof box, you won’t hinder your car’s centre of gravity and you’ll make it easier for your tires to roll, which improves fuel economy and tire life.

If your tires are nearing retirement,

get a head-start on finding the perfect replacement tires by shopping for tires online.

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