Seasonal Tire Care

Tire care in Florida is a different job than it is in most of the country. We have no snow and no freeze, but we have heat, sun, standing water and roads that hold their temperature well into the evening — and all of that ages tires faster than mileage alone.

Heat Is the Main Enemy

Tire pressure rises roughly one PSI for every ten degrees, so a tire set correctly in a cool garage runs high on hot asphalt. Heat also breaks down rubber compounds from the inside out. That is why tires here often age out before they wear out — a tire can have good tread and still be too old to trust.

Check the Date, Not Just the Tread

On the sidewall there is a four-digit DOT code: week and year of manufacture. In this climate, tires over six years old should be inspected carefully regardless of tread depth, and most manufacturers suggest replacement by ten years no matter what.

Rain Is the Other Half

Our afternoon storms drop water faster than the road can shed it. Tread depth is what pushes that water out from under the tire, and hydroplaning risk climbs sharply as tread wears down. The quarter test is quick: insert a quarter into the tread with Washington head-first. If you can see the top of his head, you are down to about 4/32 and it is time to think about replacement — well before the legal 2/32 limit.

Pressure, Monthly

Check when the tires are cold, first thing in the morning. Use the number on the driver door jamb, not the number on the tire sidewall — that one is a maximum, not a recommendation. Under-inflation causes heat buildup, edge wear and blowouts. Over-inflation wears the center and reduces grip.

Rotate and Align

Rotate roughly every other oil change so wear evens out across the set. Have the alignment checked yearly — misalignment can scrub out a new set of tires in a few thousand miles.

Get Your Tires Checked

Free tire and pressure check any time. Call (941) 766-1444.