By West Valley Tires, Buckeye’s Trusted Tire Experts

Summer in Arizona isn’t just hot—it’s extreme. With road temperatures soaring above 150°F, your tires take a serious beating. If you’re driving around Buckeye or heading out on I-10, keeping your tires in top shape is essential—not just for performance, but for your safety.

Here are our top tips to keep your tires desert-ready all summer long:

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1. Check Your Tire Pressure Frequently

Arizona’s intense heat causes air in your tires to expand, which can lead to overinflation—or worse, a blowout. On the flip side, tires that were underinflated during cooler mornings can wear faster and affect fuel efficiency.

📌 Tip: Check your tire pressure at least twice a month, ideally in the morning when the tires are cool. Use your vehicle’s recommended PSI found in the driver’s door or owner’s manual.

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2. Inspect for Cracks and Dry Rot

Desert heat dries out rubber faster than in cooler climates. This can lead to dry rot—tiny cracks that form on the sidewalls or tread of your tires. If left unchecked, it could cause your tires to fail.

👀 Watch For:

• Small cracks in the rubber
• Fading color or brittle texture
• Bulges or bubbling on the sidewalls

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3. Rotate Your Tires Regularly

Buckeye drivers know that between stop-and-go traffic, rough patches of road, and uneven wear from the heat, tire rotation is a must.

🔁 How Often: Every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, or every oil change.

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4. Don’t Skip the Alignment & Balancing

If your vehicle pulls to one side or your steering feels off, it’s time for a checkup. Misalignment can cause uneven tire wear, which is even worse in high heat when rubber softens slightly.

⚠️ Bonus: Proper alignment improves fuel efficiency—something we all need with gas prices climbing in the summer months.

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5. Watch Your Tread Depth

Good tread helps your car grip the road—even on those slick summer monsoon days. Balding tires are dangerous on hot pavement and can hydroplane during sudden storms.

🛑 Easy Trick: Insert a penny into your tire tread with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see all of his head, it’s time for new tires.

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6. Avoid Overloading Your Vehicle

Going on a summer road trip? Keep in mind that overloading your car puts extra pressure on your tires. That, combined with the heat, increases the chance of a blowout.

📦 Pro Tip: Check your vehicle’s max load rating and pack smart.

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7. Keep Up With Regular Inspections

Even if everything seems fine, having your tires professionally inspected can catch small issues before they become big ones.

🧰 Swing by [Your Company Name] in Buckeye for a free tire check. We’ll make sure your tires are summer-ready so you can hit the road with confidence.

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Buckeye, AZ Tire Services

Your tires are your first line of defense between you and the Arizona asphalt. Don’t wait until you’re stuck on the side of the road in 110°F heat to think about maintenance.

At West Valley Tires, we’ve been helping Buckeye drivers stay safe and cool for years. Whether you need a quick inspection, tire rotation, or a brand-new set, our local experts are here for you.

📍 Visit us today or schedule an appointment online.
Let’s keep you rolling safely through the summer desert heat.

Here in Buckeye, Arizona, we know a thing or two about heat, dust, and potholes the size of swimming pools. And if there’s one thing your car can’t afford to skimp on, it’s a good set of tires. We get it—buying new tires isn’t as fun as picking out a new TV or a fancy grill for backyard BBQs, but trust us, your car (and your wallet) will thank you.

1. Safety First, Because Gravity is a Thing Your tires are literally the only thing connecting your vehicle to the road. Bald, cracked, or unevenly worn tires can turn a simple grocery run into a real-life action movie—just without the paycheck or the stunt double. New tires give you better traction, especially when that surprise Arizona monsoon decides to turn the streets into a slip-and-slide.

2. Save Gas, Buy Snacks Instead Did you know that worn-out tires can hurt your gas mileage? That’s right! If your tires aren’t rolling efficiently, your engine has to work harder, and that means more trips to the gas pump. Get new tires, save on gas, and put that extra cash toward something better—like a giant burrito or an extra-large iced coffee (because Arizona summers, right?).

3. Smooth Rides, Happy Vibes If you’ve ever felt like your car is auditioning for a rodeo, bouncing and shaking down the road, it might be time for new tires. A fresh set means a smoother ride, less road noise, and fewer complaints from your passengers about feeling like they’re on a rollercoaster.

4. No More “Will It or Won’t It?” Moments Worn-out tires don’t just look bad; they’re unpredictable. You don’t want to find out the hard way that your tires are past their prime when you’re late for work or stuck in 110-degree heat on the side of I-10. Investing in new tires now means fewer roadside surprises later.

5. Your Car Will Thank You Let’s be real—cars have feelings (probably). And nothing makes your vehicle happier than a fresh set of rubber. New tires help reduce strain on your suspension and alignment, making sure your car lives a longer, healthier life.

So, if your tires are looking rougher than a desert trail after monsoon season, come on down to West Valley Tires in Buckeye. We’ll get you rolling safely and smoothly—no stunt double required!

Now that the holidays are finally over, it’s time to start prepping your off-road vehicle for riding season. There are things like; doing the oil change, packing an emergency kit, packing a tool set, etc. But what about your tires? When was the last time the tires were inspected, repaired, or replaced? If you can’t remember the last time your tires were replaced, it’s probably time to replace them!  

West Valley Tire is here to help! Our professional and knowledgeable tire mechanics are eager to get your quad, side-by-side, jeep, truck, or whatever else you got, the tires it needs to handle any trail. We strive for customer satisfaction and will do what we can to achieve that. When you take your ATV to West Valley Tire, you can trust it’ll be treated like one of our own… not that we are going to take it out around town or anything like that but you can bet we won’t disrespect it!

Give us a call if you’re looking for a reliable tire shop! 623-386-6974 

An ATV is a fun and exciting off-road vehicle that you, your family, and friends can enjoy on a nice Saturday. The weather is perfect and everyone is having a good time. To keep that good vibe going, you want to make sure that you’ve got the tires to handle all the different types of terrain. Having the right kind of tires on your quad is essential for the terrain they take on and your safety. Without having the right tires, you could cause damage to the vehicle or yourself. So when buying new tires for your off-road vehicle, pay attention to these things…  

• Tread Pattern: Quads and other ATV vehicles, have various tread patterns depending on the type of terrain. Tires with deeper tread for example, are for muddy and rocky areas. 
• Tire Construction (Bias-ply or Radial): Bias-ply tires are created by ply cords crisscrossing diagonally bead to bead internally. Radial tires are created by ply cords that are parallel to one another spanning bead to bead at a 90 degree angle directly to the center. These tires are commonly more expensive but have a longer lifespan.  

• Tire Size: Yes, size does matter! If you replace your tires with bigger ones, it can damage the drivetrain and suspensions. Stick to the same size and if you find it necessary to size up, keep it within 1-2 sizes bigger, no more than that.  

When you’re ready to replace the tires on your ATV, remember these bullet points.

If you have any questions, West Valley Tires is here to answer them! 623-386-6974 

And you’ve probably heard the drill: If caught on the highway when a storm hits, pull completely off the road, roll up your windows, set your emergency brake and turn off your lights (so as not to get rear-ended).

But many of you may not be as familiar with some ADOT’s other monsoon safety suggestions.

Off roading is getting more and more popular, perhaps because of the freedom and not having to worry about hours, social distancing or any of the other new concerns that have become since 2020. Going to the trails in the middle of nature is breathtaking as well as adventurous. While off roading is becoming more popular than before, there are so many driving options with the 4X4 autos; which one to start with is often the question.

The classic Jeep Wrangler has always seems to be a good “go to” for off road driving, and has been around for years. The side by side of roading vehicles sold in the motor sports stores are able to go virtually anywhere with the stability of a steering wheel, seat belts and 1-4 seats. Quads are able to get into more tight and smaller places, but lack the stability of the side by sides and have the potential to tip or flip when driven on super uneven surfaces. Quads are a lot of fun and with experienced drivers can safely maneuver almost anywhere. There are. a lot of great options to go off roading in; the most important thing before starting is to go at your own pace and become very familiar with your 4X4 choice and trails.

Here Are A few Tips To Start:

• Make sure your tires are in good condition and at proper air inflation for what you are doing.
• Be patient with yourself and don’t try to do more than you are comfortable with.

When going off road, it is important to think of safety 1st. While this may seem cliche’, it is important. When on many of the trails and off road spots, cell reception can be unstable or nothing at all; getting hurt is not an option if you get help out of where you are at. It is important to remember when out, there are riders who have been riding dirt bikes and other off road vehicles since as long as they can remember and some of the hardest routes look like second nature to them. Doing something that is uncomfortable for you opens you up to making mistakes and getting hurt by wrecking your off road vehicle.

• It is always a good idea to go out with other people. Going out with other people is not only fun, and can be done alone, but is safer in case something does happen.
• Having extra tires, plugs, tools and water is good to always carry with you. CB radios as long as 2 ways radios are able to work in areas cell phone lose reception, so these are great tools to have as well.
• CHOOSING THE RIGHT TIRES! West Valley Tire is here for you to help choose what is best for you, as well as get you whatever it is you want or need.
• Again we will mention proper air inflation. It is important to lower the pressure in your tires for better handling and performance in a lot of off road scenarios.

WE OFFER FINANCING SO YOU CAN MAKE AFFORDABLE PAYMENTS FOR OFF ROAD TIRE AND WHEEL NEEDS AND WANTS!

623-386-6974

Author: T with Visibly Online 06/08/2022