Do Not Neglect the Tires of Your Volvo! Seek Help from the Experts of Boca Raton

The Volvo brand produces some of the most quality-minded and finely-crafted vehicles. Along with its intuitive engineering and cabin comforts, a Volvo owner needs to partner with the designers to maintain the vehicle to its proper standards.

Good tires are vital for the operation of any vehicle, as there is not a German engineer in the world who can make sure your tires last forever. In this article, we will discuss what happens when tires are neglected and how to make sure yours stay in top condition.

The Normal Lifespan of a Tire

Different brands of tires are rated for a different number of miles. Typically, a set of tires for a vehicle will be rated between 45,000 and 90,000 miles. Whether you get the full amount of mileage on a set of tires depends on a few requirements. Let’s take a look at how to know if your tires are wearing abnormally and a few conditions that can prematurely reduce the life of your tires.

Measuring Tire Wear

There are two ways to determine tire wear. The first method is visual inspection. This can spot excessive or uneven wear of each tire. Bald spots and wire from the tire sticking out are an immediate danger sign your tires need replacing. Do not operate your car with this type of extreme tire wear.

Tires can also have excessive wear and not be visually perceived by the owner. A tire gauge can be used to see if there is enough tread remaining on your tire. If the gauge shows close to or only 2/32” tread available, it is time to purchase new tires.

If a tire gauge is not available, the old trick of using a penny to measure tread height still works. Turn the penny with the head side towards you and insert the penny into each tread of your tire. If Lincoln’s full head is visible in any part of the tread, you have less than the 2/32” mark and your tire needs replacing.

Causes of Tire Wear

Let’s take a look at some of the common ways your tires wear over time, including any reasons for premature wear.

Excessive Speeds

Tires are rated for their mileage based on a set speed. Many people are surprised to only get half of these miles before needing to purchase new ones.  One reason for premature tire wear is driving at excessive speeds. Your tires will wear faster at higher speeds, due mainly to the friction between your tire and the road, especially when cornering. This friction will eat away rubber from your tire more and more, with each corner taken at high speeds.

Improper Tire Inflation

A tire that has too much air will wear the center of the treads faster than the outside treads, as the center ones only touch the road. A tire that is underinflated will cause the tire to wear quickly on the outside only. Although both the back and the front of the tire will have wear, the center will not.

Alignment Issues

A problem with a car’s alignment is the fastest way to go through a set of tires. When an alignment issue arises, tires that are designed to roll straight will now have a slight drag across the road that will eat away at the rubber of the tire. New tires have been known to wear completely within a few days in the most severe cases.

A word of caution: If the wear from an alignment issue is on the inside of the tire only, the Volvo owner may not see the damage until a blowout occurs.

How to Properly Maintain Your Volvos Tires

Regular maintenance for your Volvo should include more than a simple oil or air filter change. World Class Auto Repairs, serving the communities surrounding Boca Raton, FL has professional technicians who care for the whole car with inspections and diagnostic tests available for each visit.

Whether you own a Volvo or another high-quality European car, we will maintain your vehicle and catch issues before they become a major and costly problem. Give us a call today to earn your business and let us show you why we are the best Volvo repair and maintenance shop in Boca Raton.