Tires are a costly investment that you have to make multiple times thanks to wear and tear. However, there are ways to extend the life of your tires as well as to improve your ride and be safer on the road. When it comes to tire maintenance, there are four key things to keep in mind.

There is a lot more to tires than meets the eye, and Car Care Connection wants you to be an informed consumer. Therefore, we offer you this guide to what the various codes and numbers on a tire can tell you. As a minimum when shopping for new tires, be aware of:

Most drivers understand that a deflated or flat tire is dangerous, but not as many drivers know that worn and old tires are dangerous too. Older tires are at greater risk for breaking. Old tires can separate from their tread unexpectedly, which can result in auto accidents. Learn more about the dangers of worn and old tires by reading on.

Wheel misalignment: the problem many drivers only become aware of long after it set in. The problem manages to fly under our radars because it’s not something we can readily see, but rest assured that even the slightest misalignment can cause long-term damage if not addressed. So the question is this: when should you get your wheels aligned?