Engine Care Goes Deeper Than Oil Changes: What Albuquerque Drivers Should Know
March 19, 2026Warmer weather means more road trips, longer drives, and higher pavement temperatures across the Rio Grande Valley. Your tires have been working through winter cold, which drops air pressure gradually and hardens rubber compounds over time. Before Albuquerque’s triple-digit summer pushes your tires even harder, a spring inspection can catch uneven wear, low pressure, and alignment drift while they’re still easy to correct.
- Cold weather and winter road conditions cause gradual tire pressure loss and uneven tread wear that often goes unnoticed
- Misalignment accelerates tire wear, reduces fuel economy, and affects vehicle handling and safety system accuracy
- A spring tire rotation, pressure check, and alignment inspection extends tire life and prepares your vehicle for summer driving
How Winter Takes a Toll on Your Tires
Every 10-degree drop in outside temperature costs your tires about 1 PSI of air pressure. Over a typical Albuquerque winter, that gradual loss adds up. Tires that started the season at the recommended 35 PSI may be sitting at 30 or below by March, and underinflated tires wear unevenly along the outer edges. That wear pattern shortens tire life and reduces traction, especially on wet roads during monsoon season.
Cold also stiffens rubber compounds temporarily, which changes how tires grip the road. While that flexibility returns as temperatures climb, the uneven wear from months of low-pressure driving does not reverse itself. The damage is already built into the tread pattern. A spring pressure check and visual inspection catches these issues before summer heat accelerates them further, since hot pavement and high ambient temperatures increase the risk of blowouts on already-compromised tires.
Alignment Drift and What It Costs You
Wheel alignment shifts gradually from normal driving, potholes, and curb contact. In Albuquerque, the construction zones along Paseo del Norte and the rough patches on North 2nd Street are enough to nudge alignment specs out of range over a single season. You might not feel a dramatic pull to one side, but even a slight misalignment changes how weight distributes across your tread.
The result is accelerated wear on one or two tires while the others look fine. That means replacing tires sooner than necessary, which is an expensive consequence of a relatively inexpensive service. A standard alignment check takes about an hour and can save hundreds of dollars in premature tire replacement. It also restores proper handling and steering response, which matters when you’re navigating I-25 traffic or descending from the Sandia Mountains on a summer afternoon.
For vehicles equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, alignment matters even more. ADAS cameras and sensors are calibrated based on your vehicle tracking straight and true. When alignment drifts, those systems may not respond as accurately. A spring alignment check keeps both your tires and your safety technology working the way they should.
Spring Tire Rotation and the Goodyear Advantage
Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles evens out wear patterns and extends the usable life of the full set. Spring is a natural time to schedule a rotation because it resets wear patterns after winter driving and prepares all four tires for the demands of summer heat. If your tread depth is getting low, this is also the time to discuss replacement options before prices tend to climb with summer demand.
As a Goodyear tire dealer, Christian’s Automotive carries a full range of Goodyear and Cooper tires designed for the conditions we drive in locally. Whether you need an all-season tire that handles monsoon rain and summer heat equally well, or a highway touring tire built for long stretches on I-40, we can match the right tire to your vehicle and your driving habits.
Right now, Goodyear is offering up to $80 back by rebate on a set of four select tires, including the Assurance WeatherReady 2, Wrangler Duratrac RT, Wrangler Steadfast HT, Assurance ComfortDrive, and Assurance MaxLife 2. The tire rebate runs through June 30, 2026. There is also a separate rebate of up to $100 back on qualifying services of $200 or more when you use the Goodyear Credit Card, but that service offer ends April 30, so the window is shorter. Ask us for details when you schedule your visit.
What a Spring Tire Service Includes
When you bring your vehicle in for a spring tire check at Christian’s, we go beyond a quick look. The service includes a digital tire pressure check and adjustment to manufacturer specs, tread depth measurement on all four tires, visual inspection for sidewall damage and irregular wear patterns, and a wheel alignment measurement. If alignment correction is needed, we handle it the same visit. We also inspect your spare tire, which is easy to forget and frustrating to discover flat when you need it most.
If you’re planning any road trips this spring or summer, a tire service now means one less thing to worry about when you load up the car. It takes less than an hour for the inspection and rotation, and if alignment work is needed, you can typically have the car back the same day.
Schedule your spring tire and alignment check today. Drive into summer with confidence and tires that are ready for whatever the road and the weather bring.
Christian’s Automotive and Tire
8811 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 899-2400
