Tire Impact During Highway Driving vs City Driving

A good and responsible driver always keeps an eye on the condition of the vehicle’s tires. It doesn't matter if it is highway driving on long stretches of road or adrenaline-pumped city driving with chaotic traffic interrupted by red lights, traffic jams, and frequent stops. At one point, your tires will need a repair or a replacement.

Both highway or city driving will impact tires, although in various ways, and it is important to know the difference.

City Driving and Its Impact of Tires

City driving is highly erratic. Driving with frequent stop-and-go, abrasive roads, potholes, red lights, sudden accelerations, and decelerations is bound to wear your tires more quickly and impact their overall efficiency.

Whenever a sudden turn is made or a brake is applied, the abrupt change in movement strips away a thin layer of rubber from the tire and becomes a common cause of center wear of the tire tread. The impact due to this kind of driving shows up more quickly on the tires.

Highway Driving and Its Impact on Tires

Contrary to city driving, highway driving is easier on the tires. There are no frequent stops and sudden jerks, and hence no city-level wear and tear on tires can be observed.

Highways are normally well-maintained which significantly improves the mileage of the tires. This is not to say that highway driving does not cause any damage to the tires. If gone uninspected, the long miles put on tires can affect the overall efficiency of the vehicle and hence the joy of the journey.

Tips to Improve Tire Efficiency

Following are some of the valuable tips that can go a long way in the better performance of your tires.

This may surprise some people, but it is imperative to know the type of tire for your vehicle. Read up on how to take care of your tires and look for signs of damage. Learn how your driving style can impact the tires. Highway driving or city driving, it is essential to know which tires are best suited.
A quick trip to the local maintenance shop or self-inspection can go a long way. Do not put this off for long periods. Know when it is time to repair your tires and when it is time to replace them to avoid any unpleasant incident.
For city driving, be cautious about how you maneuver your vehicle in heavy traffic. Try to avoid aggressive turning and braking as it can badly impact your tires.
For highway driving, it is better to prepare yourself. Make sure to check the pressure in your tires and look for wear and tear and cuts, and wheel alignment. It is always a wise decision to get in touch with a professional to inspect your tires before going on a long-distance trip.