Tires are an expensive part to replace on your car so protecting them and extending their life could be one of the most cost saving things you can do. But besides the infamous Penny Test (and that’s even changing to the Quarter Test now) there are many other ways you can keep your tires in tip-top condition.

The video at the bottom of the post from AAA highlights some important steps you can take. We’ve summarized them below:

1. Keep your tires properly inflated – AAA says to not just rely on the tire pressure recommendation written on the tire itself, but to also check your owner’s manual, as well as the placard in the door jam of your car that says how much pressure the tires for your car require.

2. Inflate your tires when they are cold – After you begin driving your car in the morning, the tires will warm up and increase the pressure inside them by 2-3 lbs which will cause an inaccurate reading when you go to fill them up.

3. Rotate your tires every 6 months or 6,000 miles – This is something you can do yourself, but if cars aren’t your thing you might be better off taking it to a shop.

4. Get them aligned at least once a year – Be sure to factor your driving conditions into this one. If you often drive on not so smooth roads, your alignment will be thrown off quicker than someone who sticks to the freeways.

At the end of the video they have a great visual of 8 different worn tire treads that show the unique ways in which tires can become worn. We urge you to take a look at your tire tread and compare it to each one of the pictures to determine how your tires are getting their wear and tear.

So take a look for yourself and keep your wheels rolling for as long as you can!