What happens to your tires if you don’t drive your car for a long time?
Driving your car regularly is the best way to prevent your tires from degrading over time. Given the fact that we are all on lockdown due to the pandemic, many of us have not been able to step out of our houses and drive around—leaving our car unused for an extended period without proper upkeep.
It’s best to do a visual inspection before taking your car for a professional car care service.
Here’s how to evaluate your tire’s health after leaving it unused for a long time.
Tread depth
Check if the tread is worn off and ensure your tires have enough traction to grip the road. An easy way to do this is through a penny test.
Tire Pressure
Tires lose pressure over time, and the weight of the car can cause flat spots when left unused for too long. To check if your tires are properly inflated, follow these steps:
- Remove the valve stem cap and press the gauge head evenly onto the valve stem.
- Use firm pressure to stop the hissing sound.
- Remove the gauge and read the pressure.
- Compare this to your vehicle’s recommended inflation pressure.
Tire Condition and Age
Inspect if your tires are up for a replacement. If you see any cuts, scrapes, punctures, bumps, or cracks, have your tires checked by a professional immediately.
Remember also to check your tire’s age. Look at the DOT stamping on the sidewall, and you’ll see a 4-digit number, the date code. The first two numbers are the week, and the last two are the year.
Following industry standards, Bridgestone recommends that tires be removed from service no more than ten (10) years after the date of manufacture.
Evaluate your oil
Keep your engine clean and avoid damaging effects of contaminated oil like premature engine breakdown by regularly scheduling an oil change.
Lastly, remember not to drive around with underinflated tires. It’s dangerous and can cause cracks, cuts and damage your tires permanently.