When you buy a new car, one of the first things you’ll have to do is change its tires. The last thing you want is for your new toy to break down because its tires are not up to speed. Luckily, there’s a way you can take care of this problem before it even occurs. You can put air in the tires of your new ride before you drive off the lot. This quick how-to tutorial will teach you how to do just that.
Find The Correct Valve
The first step is to find the correct valve for your tires. You can’t use a fuel injection valve with a car air compressor. The same goes for spark-plug or coil-type valves. Not all valves are made equal. Take your time in choosing the right valve for your specific needs. You don’t want to rush into a decision because you feel forced to. Make sure to read the reviews before purchasing a part.
Get The Right Connections
Now that you have the right valve, you need to make sure that it’s connected to a source of air. You don’t want to get the wrong end of the air hose when you’re trying to fill up your tires with some well-deserved air. When you’re trying to fill up your tires at a gas station, you’ll need to find an air pump. Some cars come equipped with a built-in air compressor, which is great because you don’t have to hunt for an air pump. The last thing you want is to waste time searching for a plug that fits your specific make and model of car. Sometimes these little things can really gum up the works. So make sure you have everything before you start moving around. Especially since you’ll be pumping up your tires with the help of your car’s compressor, it’s important not to rush the process and make mistakes. Take your time and do it right.
Make Sure You Have Everything
After you’ve successfully filled up your tires with some high-quality air, you’ll need to make sure that you have everything. You don’t want to be scrambling for a needle while trying to change a tire. Especially since you just pumped up the tires, you’ll need to make sure that you have a way to release the pressure. This is where a tire iron comes in handy. You can use the iron to pop open the valve on your tire. Then you can take off the airtight cap and move on to the next tire. Remember: the more you use them, the more they’ll wear out and require replacing.
Treat Your Tires Properly
After you’ve changed all your tires, it’s important to take care of them properly. You should check the tires for wear and tear before you drive off. Make sure to give them a good checkup and see how they’re doing. If you notice, most cars require you to change or rotate their tires more frequently than once every thousand miles. This is to help maintain the proper balance of air pressure within the tires. You can do this by simply taking off the caps and pumping up the tires once or twice a month. You don’t want to overdo it and cause your tires to become worn out too quickly. This will make it much more expensive to maintain the same level of performance as when the tires were new. Plus, overinflated tires can lead to other problems down the road. Most important, don’t leave the tires on your car for more than a few days without checking the pressure or adding more air. This can cause damage to your tires and even make them explode.
Drive Carefully
After you’ve checked all your tires and added the proper amount of air, it’s time to hit the road safely. Make sure to drive cautiously, especially since you’ve just boosted the tires and don’t want any accidents due to over- or under-speeding. As long as you do your part and take care of your tires, they’ll last a long time and require fewer repairs and replacements. This adds up to significantly reduced maintenance and fuel costs. So driving carefully and responsibly will definitely save you money in the long run. Besides, who knows – your tires might even thank you for taking care of them this way. At the very least, you’ll probably end up saving them. Who knows – maybe someday you’ll even make a friend at a gas station. It’s always nice when friends help each other out with friendly competition.
While it’s nice to save money anywhere and anytime, it’s especially beneficial when you’re doing it on unnecessary expenses. Why waste money on expensive gas and needles when you can save thousands by doing things the right way? It’s always better to know how to properly change a tire than to just throw up your hands in frustration because you don’t know the first thing about tires. At the very least, you’ll be prepared and won’t have to worry about getting stranded if necessary. Plus, you’ll have some good stories to tell your friends and family when you’re traveling.