Mike's Brake & Alignment Shop

Honest & Quality Service

Tag: tire care

How to Tell if Your Suspension Is Causing Uneven Tire Wear

November 4, 2024 / / Comments Off on How to Tell if Your Suspension Is Causing Uneven Tire Wear

Uneven tire wear can sneak up on you like a thief in the night. However, when you notice your tires looking more worn on one side than the other does, it might be time to take a closer look at your vehicle’s suspension system. Proper alignment and functioning suspension are vital for the longevity of your tires and your safety on the road. This month’s blog will show you how to identify if your suspension is the culprit behind uneven tire wear.

Check Your Tire Patterns

One of the first things you should do is inspect the tread patterns on your tires. If you notice that the inner or outer edges of your tires are significantly more worn than the center, it’s a clear sign something’s off. This wear pattern often indicates misalignment, which can stem from issues in your suspension. Some cars like Tesla, however, always require a professional alignment service.

Related: Learn more about why you should always avoid DIY Tesla alignment here.

Listen for Unusual Noises

Strange sounds can be an early warning system for your vehicle. If you hear clunking, rattling, or squeaking noises, especially when going over bumps, it might be time to investigate your suspension. These noises can indicate worn-out components like bushings or shock absorbers, which can lead to uneven tire wear if not addressed promptly.

Feel for Uneven Handling

Your car should handle smoothly and predictably. If you find yourself struggling to keep your vehicle straight or if it drifts to one side, this could signal suspension problems. Poor handling can cause your tires to wear unevenly due to the excessive stress placed on them. If you suspect that your handling issues are related to other engine problems, you may also want to check out our article on whether you can drive with bad piston rings here.

Observe Your Tire Pressure

Maintaining proper tire pressure is crucial for even tire wear. Low pressure can exacerbate the effects of suspension issues. Check your tire pressure regularly and ensure it matches the manufacturer’s recommendations. Consistent under-inflation can lead to quicker wear and tear on the edges of your tires, which can be preventable with regular car care.

If You Suspect Issues, Book an Inspection with Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop

Uneven tire wear can lead to more severe issues down the line, including safety risks and costly repairs. Visit us today for a thorough inspection, and drive with confidence knowing your vehicle is in tip-top shape. Reach out to us at (817) 834-2725 or visit mikesautospa.com to schedule an appointment. We look forward to serving you!

How to Get Your Vehicle Ready for Spring

February 9, 2023 / / 0 Comments

As the winter season fades, you can finally start to enjoy driving in warmer weather. However, when you are driving in the winter, chances are the cold weather has done a number on your vehicle components. Therefore, it is wise to do a thorough inspection to prepare your car for spring. Here are the most crucial components to check to make sure your car is ready for spring and summer.

Inspect Your Windshield Wipers

With the return of spring, a careful inspection of the windshield wipers is highly recommended to verify that they are in good working order. Nevertheless, the best thing is to replace them, the cold weather is very harmful for the rubber, which then deteriorates, making the brushes less efficient. Also, remember to change them at the end of the summer.

Take A Look At Your Battery

Take advantage of the return of sunny days to take a look at your battery charge and give it a little boost if necessary. If you were noticing a poor performance during winter, consider buying a new one to avoid any battery failures in the future.

Change Your Oil

Regular oil changes are essential to keep your engine running smoothly, and spring is a great time to do it. A fresh oil change can help improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend the life of your engine. Keep your car in its optimum condition with routine oil changes.

Related: Learn more about when your car needs oil changing here.

Switch Out Those Winter Tires

Many car owners think that it is not necessary to change tires in the spring or summer and that they can very well continue driving with winter tires to avoid new expenses. Since winter tires are designed for cold roads, they may deteriorate quicker if the ground exceeds 7 degrees. Change your winter tires with summer or all-season tires from mid-March for your safety and your pocket.

Related: Learn more how when to use all-season and winter tires here.

We’re At Your Service All Season Long

Spring is the perfect time to give your vehicle a tune-up and make sure it’s ready to tackle the changing weather and road conditions. Our team is here to help you make sure that your vehicle is running smoothly and safely all spring long. Give us a call 817-834-2725 at for any assistance and check out our website to see our comprehensive list of services.

All-Season Vs Winter Tires: Which Should I Pick?

November 18, 2022 / / 0 Comments

When the temperatures start to drop and summer tires no longer allow you to feel safe in your vehicle, it’s time to change them for winter tires. However, a few years ago, only winter tires made it possible to face winter conditions in complete safety. But today, with the development of “4 seasons” tires, these hybrid tires can take you everywhere, so the question arises: Is it better to use seasonal tires or switch to all-season tires? Simply keep scrolling to learn more.

All-Season Tires: The Champions of Versatility, Master of None

All-season tires are generalists. They are able to cope with all weather conditions due to their versatility. They perform better than winter tires in the summer and are more reliable than summer tires in the cold season. This is where the main advantage of 4-season tires lies, along with limiting the risk of accidents during a sudden change in weather. Just make sure to get them properly aligned. This is because you’ll drive in harsh weather.

Related: learn more on how to know if your tires need to be balanced or aligned here.   

Winter Tires: The Sub-Freezing Hero

Winter tires are a type specially designed for driving in winter conditions, such as in the rain, on slippery roads, snow, or ice. In general, it should be remembered that as soon as the temperatures drop below 7°C, you must put on winter tires. Nonetheless, there are many types of winter tires, and with the help of a tires specialist, you’ll get the most functional ones.

What About Summer Tires With Chains?

Chains are a solution that can always prevent you from getting stuck in the snow, even if it obviously offers only very limited versatility and can sometimes be complicated to install. It is, therefore, far from offering the same services as winter or 4-season tires, which can be useful even on dry or wet roads when the temperature is below 7°C. However, in a state like Texas, it is allowed to use chains only during a time of snow and ice, as per Texas law.

Conclusion

Your tires should meet your needs regardless of the season. With the above information, along with your driving habits, you’ll make up your mind about what type of tires are good for you. The expert team here at Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop has the knowledge and skills to provide you with the right tires. To learn more about our services, please visit our website.

How to Know if You Need Your Wheels Aligned or Balanced

March 25, 2022 / / 0 Comments

The world of car maintenance is teeming with technical jargon, and nothing is more confusing for all vehicle owners than trying to find the difference between a wheel alignment and wheel balancing. Both of these affect your driving experience and are important factors for a smooth and safe ride. If you’re not sure if you need a wheel alignment or balancing service, continue reading to differentiate between these two processes with our guide below.

What Is Wheel Balancing?

If you’re normally driving between 40 mph and 50 mph and you feel the steering column vibrate, this means you need a wheel balancing and your wheels need to be checked. Also known as tire balancing, wheel balancing is the process of distributing the weight of a wheel evenly around its axis of rotation. This process ensures that the entire surface of the tire is perfectly in contact with the road surface while driving.

What Is a Wheel Alignment?

When your car appears to be swerving left or right, even though it feels like you’re driving in a straight line, it is a strong indicator that your car needs a realignment as soon as possible. Also known as a tire alignment, a wheel alignment ensures that the four wheels of your vehicle are parallel to each other. This process aligns them at the correct angle according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Why Do I Need an Alignment or Balancing?

The bottom line is that maintaining proper wheel alignment and balancing is essential to your vehicle’s performance and will avoid unnecessary wear on your tires, steering, suspension, and brakes. These two services will ensure a safe and efficient operation while allowing you to maintain control on difficult roads and during harsh weather. It also ensures a smooth ride and a longer lifespan for your tires.

Conclusion

Every vehicle’s wheels at a certain point will lose its balance, whether it be due to imperfections, blemishes in its rubber, and other causes. If you notice any symptoms of unbalanced wheels or alignment issues in your vehicle, head to Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop – the best mechanical specialist in Fort Worth, TX. Visit our auto shop or check out our website for more information about our auto services.

Identifying Tire Damage

May 25, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Maintaining your tires is crucial for your vehicle and safety. Sometimes they can be damaged for a variety of reasons and many drivers don’t notice it until they start feeling the symptoms of a deflating or unaligned tire. It’s important to regularly inspect your tires so that you can catch any potential problems early on, especially before and after a long trip or after driving on a rough road. In this month’s blog, we will discuss how to identify tire damage and what they mean.

Punctures and Cuts

Punctures and cuts are most commonly caused by running over nails or glass on the road. This pierces the tire and if the puncture is deep enough, your tire may begin to lose tire pressure and slowly deflate. Cuts can also come from driving on a bad or rough road conditions. They can be hard to notice until you start feeling the consequences of your deflating tire while driving. If this happens to you, the puncture or cut must be patched immediately.

Cracking and Bulging

Cracks and bulges are usually caused by hitting curbs or running over potholes and debris. Cracks are most noticeable along your tire’s sidewall and can also be caused by underinflating your tires. If you notice numerous smaller cracks, this is usually due to old age and wear and tear from the elements. Bulges, or impact breaks, are caused by running over curbs at excessive speed levels. This impact causes internal damage and sometimes the bulge does not begin to appear until weeks later. Bulges should not be ignored and you should get your tire replaced as soon as possible. If left alone, it can lead to tire failure and safety issues.

Cupping

Cupping, also known as scalloping, looks like a waving pattern of lumps or hills. If you notice this on your tires, the culprit may be due to damaged suspension components. This causes the tires to bounce while you’re driving and come down harder on some spots than others. Having bad shock absorbers may also be the issue.

Flat Spots

A flat spot is a single spot on your tire that is very noticeably more worn down than other areas. Often vehicles that have been parked in one spot for a very long time will experience flat spots at the bottom of their tires. Another cause would be skidding on the road after slamming your brakes.

Worn Down Sides

  • Center Wear: When your tire is only worn straight down the middle. This is due to your tire being overinflated and only allowing the center to come into contact with the road.
  • Outer-Edge Wear: When only the outside edges of your tire are worn down and not the middle. This is the inverse of center wear and is due to the tire being underinflated. This means there is too little pressure and the tire is forced to flex.
  • One-sided Wear: When only one side of your tire is worn down. This is most likely due to it being unaligned and making your vehicle lean too much on one side. 

Conclusion

If you notice any wear and tear on your tires, especially anything major, it’s best to let a professional handle it. For all of your tire patching and replacement needs, come to Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop. We specialize in servicing tires, brakes, steering and suspension, and more! Our technicians are ASE certified with many years of experience. To learn more about our services, please visit our website or call us at (817) 834-2725.

Basic Tire Maintenance Every Driver Should Know

August 31, 2019 / / 0 Comments

As the only thing between your car and the road, the tires carry quite a bit of pressure. With the amount of rotations they go through to the amount of air normally lost due to how often you drive, a lot can happen to cause excessive wear and tear on your tires. Keep reading to learn more about three of the basic tire maintenance steps every driver should know.

Checking the tire pressure.
Checking the tire pressure.

Check Tire Pressure

To ensure your gas mileage stays in a healthy range and you remain safe on the road, always check and fill your tire pressure. A car’s tires naturally lose about 1-2 psi every month which means continued neglect will result in a dangerous blow-out. Don’t risk your safety and the safety of others while on the road and check your tire pressure periodically.

Rotate Your Tires

Most mechanics recommend rotating your tires every 5-7,000 miles. This is due to the amount of wear most front wheel drive cars experience on their tires. By rotating your front tires to the rear and vice versa you will ensure an even better tread wear on your vehicle. Periodically rotating your tires will also allow you to maintain a good gas mileage. Not taking proper care of your vehicle’s tires will drastically reduce the gas mileage and performance of your car.

Mechanic rotating a car's tires.
Mechanic rotating a car’s tires.

Perform a Visual Inspection

Visual inspections of your tires are a handy way to ensure the tread is still within safety limits. While it is never a good sign that you can tell your tires are going flat, simply taking the time to inspect them will allow you to address any issues. Performing a visual inspection of your tires is an excellent way to spot any cuts or bulges on them.

Thoughts

From simply checking the tire pressure to using proper tire rotation schedules and even visual inspections, you will be able to keep a proper eye on your tire’s wear and tear. Be sure to call on the team at Mike’s Brake & Alignment Shop for all of your vehicle needs. Call us today to schedule an exceptional tire service!

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