Our Tire Maintenance Guide
Like your Hyundai vehicle itself, you can maximize the lifespan and performance quality of your Hyundai tires. Proper maintenance and care for your tires can allow you to save on the cost-of-replacement in the future, and can help maintain tire integrity, which in-turn keeps you and your occupants safer on the road. It is very easy to check your tires, and regularly checking your tires can also help you identify other issues with your Hyundai, such as wheel alignment and balancing issues. Here are some helpful tips that can allow you to maximize your tires.
Tire Pressure
Tire pressure is incredibly important to be aware of in your vehicle. Fortunately, new Hyundai models include Tire Pressure Monitoring systems, allowing you to check tire pressure and be altered to changes right from the command of your driver seat. However, not all vehicles have such a system, especially older models. That is why it is important to have a manual tire gauge in your Hyundai vehicle, they are cheap and easy-to-use, providing you with a quick and easy reading of individual tire pressure.
Check your tire pressure regularly, so when you notice any changes from the normal pressure, that may be an indicator that there is a larger issue with your vehicle. When you notice sudden changes in your tire pressure, that can be a sign of a puncture or leak, or even alignment, suspension, or steering issues. Further investigation by a certified Hyundai mechanic at our Whitby-area Service Department can quickly identify any issues you may have.
Tread Wear
Another key factor in monitoring/determining tire health is the wear on the tread of your tires. Ideally, your treads should be evenly worn throughout the whole tire, with no noticeable differences and variations through the tread pattern. Tread is an important factor for tires, as tread is what keeps your vehicle gripped to the road, especially in winter with winter-tire treads having improved grip and traction patterns. Tread wear can be a significant safety concern, and must be carefully monitored to ensure the safety of yourself, your occupants, and other drivers.
Drivers can use a tire depth gauge, an inexpensive tool that can identify if your treads are roadworthy. Here are some general measurements that help you identify if your treads are worn and need replacing:
- 6/32” or greater means your tires are in great shape
- 5/32” means your tires may need replacing for wet or unfavorable conditions
- 3/32” to 4/32” indicates that your tires need replacing very soon
- 2/32” or less means your tires are legally bald and need to be replaced immediately
While most tires have indicators built-in, it is always handy to have a diagnostic tool on-hand at all times just in case. It is also important to note how your treads are wearing. Here are some key indicators that can be a symptom of larger issues:
- Wear on both edges: potentially underinflated tires, consider raising tire pressure and checking for leaks
- Wear on one edge: potential poor wheel-alignment, visit our dealership for servicing
- Wear only in centre: likely overinflated tires, consider decreasing tire pressure to manufacturer suggested PSI
- Uneven wear: likely unbalanced and/or unaligned tires, visit our dealership for servicing
- Saw-tooth pattern wear: likely poor alignment, visit our dealership for servicing
- High-pitch squealing noise when turning: Poor alignment and/or underinflated tire
Remember to check your tires at minimum once-a-month, but we recommend checking them more often than that. Weekly tire checks can lead to a safer driver experience in the long-term, and can help give you key indicators when more significant issues are occurring with your vehicle, before they become dangerous. Stay on top of your vehicle's health by keeping up with your Hyundai Maintenance Schedule at Gus Brown Hyundai, where we monitor your tire health, as well as other key components of your Hyundai vehicle. Book your appointment with us today, and we’ll keep you well informed about your Hyundai’s maintenance health and condition.