An Ode to the Tire

I find tires to be a rather humorous subject. Since southwestern Pennsylvania is basically a really big pothole farm, we all have tire issues. If you have replaced them recently (or ever) you may not be laughing now, but let me show you from my point of view.

Tires make people very angry and emotional. I’m not sure if we just forget that tires are part of car maintenance or if the baby in the tire commercials made us feel a little too warm and fuzzy about the subject, but it seems that customers get upset about replacing them.

Tires are like shoes—they will wear out, especially if you drive in suburbia slamming on your brakes every 15 seconds. I may be unfairly singling out certain drivers, but I’ve seen you all cry when you need new tires at 20,000 miles because you drive like that.

Back to the shoe analogy—you wouldn’t run the Pittsburgh Marathon in Crocs. You need a well-made supportive shoe that fits your foot. Same principle with tires—you need a well-made tire that properly fits your car.

The tire consists of two basic areas: the tread and the body.

The tread provides the friction the car needs to go and stop with control. The body provides the support. Your sidewall is part of the body and if you have driven through any new housing plan and found a nail in the sidewall of your tire, the reason they can’t repair the tire is because that portion of the tire supports the weight of the car. Patching the sidewall is like putting a bandage on a broken leg—it won’t fix anything.

Yes, tires can be expensive.

Tire companies put a lot of research and testing into the strength and lifespan of their materials. Please try to remember how important these four rubbers are. They carry you and your family from point A to point B safely.

There are things you can do to extend the lifespan of your tires.

Always be sure they are properly inflated. If you do have tire pressure monitoring, great, but please remember that when the temperatures drop, so will the pressure in your tire. The tire light doesn’t mean you need a tow or an emergency appointment—just a quick trip to GetGo or wherever you find they have quality compressed air.

Disclaimer: That was a joke, all compressed air is fine—please don’t go to the car shop asking for the nicer air, they will laugh at you. Your dealer is still happy to throw a few pounds of air in for you. Also, be sure that your vehicle is properly aligned and you rotate the tires often. Tires that wear unevenly have a much shorter lifespan. Tire rubber does break down over time. Tires older than six years should be replaced. Older tires will not be as structurally sound and have the possibility of pealing apart at high speeds. Everyone has seen those tires on the side of the highway and thought, “Thank God that wasn’t me.” Well, if you don’t take car of them, it could be.

A word on snow tires: very useful buggers.

I have a set and a steep driveway; I love them. But, I am concerned about the false sense of security some drivers seem to have once the snow tires are mounted. Snow tires do not come with four-wheel drive, all wheel stop, a magic wand, an invisibility cloak or a priest. You still need to be cautious. Please and thank you.

Unless you trade your car in before the tires need replaced—please plan ahead for this expense. Your dealer can give you accurate pricing before that fateful "not going to pass inspection because your tires are smoother than skis" day.

Lastly, tires are your friends. Go give yours a hug. They do a great job of taking care of you. Just kidding, don’t hug your tires, the neighbors will think you are weird. Just thank them with a rotation or alignment.