Your tires and wheels deal with the brunt of the forces of acceleration, steering, and braking. Having to endure rough roads and adverse weather conditions, it’s only fitting that you give them the same attention as critical engine and transmission parts when it comes to maintenance.
Here are some of the parts and accessories you might want to add to your shopping list if you want to make the most out of your wheels and tires.
Your spare tire needs as much attention as your regular tires. It can get you out of a flat when you’re on the road, which is why you need to take good care of it.
Putting on a tire cover on your spare is one of the easiest and most effective ways to ensure that it’ll last a long time.
Typically made from PVC tarpaulin and ABS plastic, tire covers are meant to protect spare tires from debris and harsh weather conditions.
Aside from their protective benefits, tire covers help streamline the look of vehicles.
Some covers are made with a hard shell composition that comes in a matte or glossy finish. Others have a heat dissipation mask on the front cover. There are also tire covers that have locking mechanisms to prevent theft.
Average Price Range: $50-$100
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Ensuring that your tires have enough air is critical if you want to enjoy a comfortable and safe driving experience.
Driving with a flat tire can cause its sidewall to collapse, increasing the risk of puncture damage. Also, keep in mind that tires play an important role in your vehicle’s handling. A flat tire can easily cause your other wheels to lose traction and increase the risk of accidents.
To prevent these things from happening, it’s a good idea to have a handy tire inflator somewhere in your trunk or truck bed.
Having the right tire pressure also ensures that your vehicle runs efficiently.
You’ll find a variety of tire inflators in the market, including pre-set and manual ones.
A pre-set inflator allows the operator to set a specific pressure level, and the inflator automatically stops once it reaches that mark.
Meanwhile, a manual inflator will require the operator to stop the device once it reaches the appropriate tire pressure.
Average Price Range: $50-$100
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For truck and SUV owners, keeping a spare tire under their vehicles can be quite a hassle, especially when it’s time to take it out.
Tires that are stored under vehicles are often exposed to debris, which can lead to premature wear. Imagine having a flat tire and replacing it with a spare that’s also damaged一frustrating, right?
If you don’t want to encounter the same issue, you might want to invest in a high-quality spare tire carrier.
Spare tire carriers come in all sorts of styles, but the most common is the bumper mount.
Bumper-mounted spare tire carriers are attached to steel or tube bumpers. Installing this type of carrier exposes the spare tire often seen at the back of the truck or SUV. For added protection, you can pair a bumper-mounted carrier with a tire cover.
Other tire carrier designs include truck bed, roof rack, and hood-mounted tire mounts.
Average Price Range: $100-$250
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A huge part of wheel care and maintenance involves a careful inspection of the wheel bearings.
These bearings are crucial in maintaining proper wheel rotation, reducing friction, and tracking wheel speed.
Vehicle manufacturers often have a specified interval for wheel bearing inspection and replacement, which you might find in your owner’s manual.
A worn-out or damaged wheel bearing isn’t exactly the easiest thing to replace or install compared to the other items on this list, but it’s one of the most important parts you should pay attention to.
A faulty wheel bearing may cause problems like unusual noises, uneven tire wear, steering wheel vibrations, and abnormal side pull, among others.
Average Price Range: $20-$50
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Installing a new wheel seal is a must after replacing your old wheel bearing with a new one.
A wheel seal forms a barrier that prevents lubricant from leaking out of the bearing cavity. Improper installation, worn-out bearings, and damaged hubcaps are the most common reasons why the seal can fail.
Average Price Range: $10-$50
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As small as they are, wheel studs do a lot of things for your vehicle. These studs bolt your wheels to the wheel hubs and axles, preventing them from falling off.
Checking the wheel stud might be the last thing on your maintenance checklist, but always remember that it pays to be observant no matter how small a part is.
Keep an eye out for cracks and stripped studs. These damages can affect the studs’ structural integrity, increasing the risk of wheel-related accidents.
Also, make sure that your wheels have no missing studs.
Average Price Range: $5-$20
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Installing a hub cap is an effective way to keep contaminants out of the wheel hub, prolonging the wheel’s service life. It can also protect the wheel studs.
A hub cap also doubles as an aesthetic upgrade for those who want to spruce up their wheels.
Hub caps are typically made from plastic, metal, or a combination of the two.
Average Price Range: $20-$50
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.