As any car owner knows, high quality tires that work efficiently are essential to staying safe and sound on the road. The unexpected flat tire can happen to anyone who accidentally drives over a nail in the road, but proper tire care and maintenance can extend the life of most tires by years, according to Popular Mechanics. Here are some tips for helping your tires stay on the road longer.

Be Aware of How You Are Driving

Driving carefully is the primary responsibility of any driver, but it's also important to take an awareness of how you are driving in ways that have an impact your tire longevity. If you regularly have to make sudden stops or ride your brakes, the wear on the tires can be immense. Try to avoid roads that have a lot of potholes, and stay off the roads in rough weather whenever you can.

Take Your Car to a Mechanic Regularly

It's important to take your car to a mechanic that you trust on a regular basis. Not only can a mechanic help you maintain your vehicle overall, but they can also rotate your tires and otherwise help with tire maintenance. This tire rotation can help ensure that the wear is distributed evenly over all the tires. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

Keep An Eye on Your Tires

In addition to taking your car to a mechanic for tire rotation and oil changes, you should also inspect your tires at least once per month. Keep the following things in mind during this visual inspection:

• Look for any signs of damage to the bottom of the tires.
• Watch out for sidewall cracks that may signify low inflation or damage from being in the sun.
• Check out the tread depth.
• Use an air pressure gauge to check the current tire pressure.

Store Your Tires Carefully

If you need to store your tires or extra spares that may later go on your vehicle, how you do so is very important. Improper storage can greatly decrease the life of the tires. When you need to store tires, it's best to do the following:

• Always store your tires indoors on in a shelter of some kind, never outside where they are exposed to the elements.
• Make sure that your tires are covered and not exposed to direct sunlight or UV rays.
• Maintain a stable temperature in the area where you are storing your tires.

Finally, keep in mind that it's important to follow these tire care tips whether you're driving a small economy car or an oversized truck. Consistent and thorough care and maintenance of your tires will help you enjoy fun times on the road for years to come.