At Gay Family Kia, our service technicians know the importance of well-maintained tires to keeping you on the road with confidence. From new tires to tire maintenance, the service team at the local Kia dealership near you is here to help our Dickinson, Texas customers with your tire needs. We invite our Pearland, Friendswood, Pasadena, League CIty, and Houston area shoppers to head into your next adventure with the confidence that comes from professional service for your vehicle. 

How to Check My Kia’s Tire Pressure

Checking your tire pressure at regular intervals is a quick and helpful way to ensure your car’s tires are not over or under inflated. This is key to maximizing the life of your tires. While performing your tire pressure check also gives you a chance to inspect the condition of your tires. You will want to perform a visual inspection on your tire walls for cracks or check for foreign objects that may have become embedded in your tire. 

How to Check My Tire Tread Depth

As you prepare to hit the road, keeping an eye on your tire tread is another important part of making sure your tires are in great shape to grip the road properly. Some tires are designed with a tread depth indicator between the treads of your tire. If your tire tread is even with the tread depth indicator, it is time to consider replacing your tires. Another simple way to ensure your tires have an appropriate level of tread depth is to use the penny test. 

• Place a penny between the tread blocks of your tire with President Lincoln’s hair down

• It may be time to replace your tires if the top of his head is visible 

• If his head is partially obscured by your tire tread, the tire tread is still at an appropriate level

While evaluating your tread depth, you can also take this opportunity to check whether the wear on your tires looks even. Uneven tire wear could indicate a variety of different issues with your tires, including improper inflation, misalignment, unbalanced tires, or a need for a tire rotation. 

How to Choose the Right Tires For You

When shopping for your next set of tires for your vehicle, it is important to consider your typical driving conditions and seasonal weather conditions. Some of the tire types to choose from include:

• Highway and All Season Tires: Usually offer circumferentially arranged tread blocks, allowing them to disperse road water by cutting through it and provide a smooth ride with low rolling resistance

• Snow, Mud, and All Terrain Tires:  Feature radially arranged tread blocks. They are still good in rain but are best suited for navigating dirt and snow situations. The major difference between mud and all terrain tires is the distance between the tread blocks or the “tread void” of the tires 

• High performance Tires: Designed with a focus on specific goals. These tires are produced to allow for shorter stopping range, superior cornering performance, and handle speed better than other tires

How Often Should I Rotate & Balance My Tires?

There are a few key elements of tire care that can help you with the longevity of your vehicle’s tires while ensuring the best performance possible. Regular tire rotations should be performed approximately every 6,000-8,000 miles to help keep tread wear even for your tires. Consistently balancing your tires is also important in evening out your tire tread wear over time. It is recommended that you have your tires balanced around every 5,000-6,000 miles.