Service technician installing a new tire

Tires

Your vehicle's tires are the first and only contact with the road, so it is important to choose the right set when replacing them. Shottenkirk Chevrolet Buick GMC Fort Madison has Certified Service experts that will handle all of your tire needs. From checking tire wear to tire pressure our team can help you find new tires for your vehicle.

Tire Maintenance

A service guy installing a tire

Wheel Alignment & Balance

Proper wheel alignment is key to prolonging the life of your tires. If your vehicle is misaligned, it can cause your tires to wear unevenly, and you may experience a change in how your vehicle handles.

Your tires and wheels are aligned and balanced at the factory to provide the longest life and best overall performance. Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire balancing are not necessary on a regular basis. Consider a wheel alignment check if there is unusual tire wear or the vehicle is significantly pulling to one side or the other.

If one of your tires is out of balance it can affect your ride quality and can shorten the life of tires and other suspension components. If you notice a vibration when driving on a smooth road, the tires and wheels may need to be rebalanced. Let our Certified Service experts ensure you have a smooth ride.

A service guy repairing and balancing a tire

Tire Rotation

It's a known fact that regular tire rotation extends the life of your tires and improves performance. Tires are rotated to achieve a uniform wear for all tires. Each tire performs different tasks (such as steering in front- versus rear-wheel drive), therefore tires wear at different rates. Your tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles to prevent irregular tire wear.

It's important to rotate your tires according to the correct tire-rotation pattern. Doing so will prolong the life of your tires and will reduce the risk of sudden tire failure. Your front tires encounter different tasks than the rear tires. A front-wheel-drive vehicle’s tires perform different tasks than those on a rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, it will need to be reset after each tire rotation. You can count on your Certified Service experts to perform this simple procedure with every tire rotation they perform. For more information, see your Owner’s Manual for details.

A shot of the back of a service technician, repairing a tire

Tire Pressure

Your Buick, Chevrolet, GMC’s Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is designed to warn the driver when low-tire-pressure conditions exist. A sensor measures tire pressure and temperature, then transmits data to your tire pressure monitor. If the pressure in one or more of your tires is 25 percent or more below the vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold inflation pressure for tires, a warning indication will alert the driver.

Your Original Equipment TPMS sensor battery can last up to 10 years with normal use. When the TPMS battery fails, the sensor will need to be replaced.

How do you know that air pressure is low or whether the TPMS has malfunctioned?

If your Tire Pressure Monitor light comes on and stays solid with a check tire pressure, low tire pressure, or add air to tire message, then check and adjust all tire air pressures to the recommended levels. Next, drive your vehicle to turn the light off.

If your Tire Pressure Monitor light appears as a blinking yellow lamp for more than one minute and stays solid, then diagnostic service is needed. If your TPMS is not functioning properly, it cannot detect or signal a low-tire condition. Simply schedule an appointment with one of our Certified Service Technicians and they can ensure your TPMS is operating properly so you can go with confidence.

Tire Wear

A service technician checking for a tire wear

What Causes Tire Wear

There are many factors that can cause tire wear, such as your driving style and tire maintenance habits. Tire replacement is absolutely needed when the tread wear indicators appear. Your tire's built-in tread wear indicators look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread and become visible as the tire surface wears.

A service technician installing a tire

When To Replace Tires

Tread wear indicators appear when your tires only have 2/32 inch or less of tread remaining. Also, the rubber in your tires ages over time. This applies to your spare tire as well (if available), even if it is never used. Multiple factors including temperatures, loading conditions, and inflation pressure maintenance affect how fast tires age.

Other warning signs that your vehicle will need tire replacement:

  • You can see three or more tread wear indicators around the tire
  • The tire cord or fabric is showing through the rubber
  • The tire tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric
  • The tire has a bulge or split
  • The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can't be repaired correctly

If you are in need of tires, come to Shottenkirk Chevrolet Buick GMC Fort Madison. Our Certified Service experts will help you find the right tires for your Buick, Chevrolet, GMC vehicle.

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Shottenkirk Chevrolet Buick GMC Fort Madison 40.6262, -91.3769.