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It's February now, and if you're planning a trip anywhere with cold weather, it's a good time to check your tires. While winters are mild here in Bakersfield, nights can get cooler (and keeping up on tire maintenance is a good habit in general that should be done year-round). In winter in particular, and especially if you visit anywhere that gets snow and ice, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is equipped to handle the conditions it faces. One of the most important aspects of winter driving is tire maintenance. Properly maintained tires significantly improve traction, handling, and overall safety on icy and snowy roads.
Here are some tire winter maintenance tips to keep your set in top condition.
1. Check Tire Pressure Regularly
Cold temperatures cause tire pressure to drop. For every 10°F decrease in temperature, tire pressure can fall by about 1 PSI. Low tire pressure results in reduced traction and increased wear. Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before long trips. Inflate tires to the manufacturer's recommended pressure, which can usually be found on a sticker inside the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual.
2. Inspect Tread Depth
Tread depth is critical for maintaining grip on slippery surfaces. The minimum legal tread depth in many areas is 2/32 of an inch, but for optimal winter performance, a tread depth of at least 6/32 of an inch is recommended. Use a tread depth gauge if you're preparing your tires for winter. During other times of the year, the penny test works for inspections—insert a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down; if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires.
3. Rotate Tires Regularly
Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles helps ensure even wear and prolongs their lifespan. Uneven wear can compromise traction and handling, especially in winter conditions. Follow your vehicle’s maintenance schedule for rotations and consider aligning your wheels if you notice uneven wear patterns.
4. Balance and Align Your Tires
Proper balancing and alignment are essential for optimal tire performance. Misalignment leads to uneven tire wear and affects handling. If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side or if the steering wheel vibrates, have your alignment checked. Balancing tires when they are mounted prevents vibrations and promotes even wear.
5. Monitor for Damage
Regularly inspect your tires for signs of damage, such as cuts, punctures, or cracks in the sidewalls. Any visible damage can compromise safety and performance, so replace damaged tires immediately. Additionally, keep an eye out for bulges or blisters, which may indicate internal damage.
6. Know When to Replace Tires
Tires have a limited lifespan. If they don't wear out, they'll age out. If your tires are approaching show significant wear or have been around for awhile (check with the tire manufacturer for what to expect regarding tire age replacement intervals), it’s time to invest in new ones.
Maintaining your tires is essential for safe driving year-round and especially during the colder months. By regularly checking tire pressure, inspecting tread depth, rotating tires, ensuring proper balance and alignment, monitoring for damage, and knowing when to replace them, you can keep your set rolling for years to come.
Should you need assistance with winter tire maintenance in Bakersfield, CA, we invite you to contact Clerou Tire & Auto Care. We provide a variety of tire services. Count on our team to keep you rolling year-round with everything from professional tire installations and wheel alignments to tire rotations.
Tire installment package required for online only. Goodyear Credit Card offers are subject to credit approval. Get up to $100 back by mail-in or online on a qualifying purchase of a set of 4 select Goodyear tires with any form of payment method; plus get an added bonus of up to $100 more when the purchase is made on Goodyear Credit Card from 10/1/2024 to 12/31/2024.
Get a $100 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $200 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance WeatherReady® 2, Wrangler Duratrac® RT, Assurance WeatherReady® and WinterCommand® Ultra.
Get a $75 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $150 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Wrangler® All-Terrain Adventure with Kevlar®, Wrangler Boulder MT®, Wrangler Steadfast HT® and Ultra Grip® Performance 3.
Get a $50 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $100 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance ComfortDrive®, Assurance MaxLife®, Eagle Exhilarate®, Eagle® Sport All-Season Family (includes ROF and SCT), Eagle® Touring Family (includes ROF and SCT), Winter Maxx® 2, Winter Maxx® SJ8, WinterCommand®, Ultra Grip® Series (includes Eagle® Ultra Grip® GW-2/3, + SUV, 8 Performance/ROF, 9+, Performance+/SCT/+ SUV/3/Gen-1/Gen-1 ROF/ SUV Gen-1, Ultra Grip® Winter).
Get a $25 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase or $50 Visa Prepaid Card with purchase on the Goodyear Credit Card of: Assurance® All-Season, Kelly Edge® Sport, Kelly Edge® Touring A/S and Kelly Edge® Touring Plus.
Limit one (1) rebate per qualifying tire purchase. Limit four (4) rebates per household, per promotion. Tire rebate offers are on a set of four (4) tires purchased from 10/1/2024 to 12/31/2024. If your vehicle requires six tires, rebates are available on a prorated basis for the two additional tires. The prorated rebate amount, per additional tire, is 25% of the rebate amount listed above. The minimum purchase is a set of four tires, and the maximum purchase is six tires per invoice. Complete purchase must be made on the Goodyear Credit Card to receive maximum rebate offer. Offers available only at authorized participating U.S. Goodyear retailers and websites. Offer valid only for U.S. residents who are individual consumers with mailing addresses in the U.S. and U.S. territories. Offers valid for consumer accounts in good standing. Not valid on previous purchases. Cannot be combined with other Goodyear tire rebate offers. Base portion of rebate offered by Goodyear, and bonus portion of rebate offered by Citibank, N.A. The Goodyear Credit Card is issued by Citibank, N.A.
Completed rebate forms must be postmarked or submitted online no later than 1/31/2025. Invoice must have eligible tire name and proof of purchase on Goodyear Credit Card (when applicable) clearly indicated. Online purchases must include copy of the online purchase invoice and the installation invoice from authorized Goodyear retailer. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for Visa Prepaid Card/Virtual Card delivery. Goodyear reserves the right to substitute a check of equal value in lieu of a Visa Prepaid Card at its discretion. For additional questions, or to check the status of your rebate, you may visit www.Goodyear.com/rebates or call the Goodyear Rebate Customer Service at 1-888-683-8724 Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET on Saturday. Fraudulent submissions will not be honored and may be prosecuted. Sponsor is not responsible for noncomplying rebate submissions or for lost, late, illegible, postage-due or undeliverable mail. Noncomplying rebate submissions will not be honored, acknowledged or returned. Void where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. All decisions made by Goodyear (or its authorized representatives) relating to the validity of any submissions are final and binding. This promotion is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Rebate paid in the form of a Goodyear Visa Prepaid Card or Virtual Card. Prepaid Card/Virtual Card is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Prepaid Card can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Virtual Card can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted online or for phone/mail orders. Prepaid Card/Virtual Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Prepaid Card terms and conditions apply. Pathward does not endorse or sponsor the Goodyear Credit Card offer. Retain copies of the materials you submit. Additional terms and conditions apply. Ask participating retailer for complete details and rebate form.
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