Your tires are a very important part of your vehicle and they are responsible for keeping you connected to the road. Tires should be inspected regularly to ensure that they haven’t lost their grip
Items to check:
1. Check tread pattern
2. Sidewalls
3. Tire pressure
In addition, tires should be rotated on average every 5,000-10,000 miles. Refer to your owner’s manual for exact guidelines for your vehicle.
Determining when it is time to replace your tires
Inspect your tires:
1. Check the wear on a tire by using a penny. Put the president’s head in one of the treads. If part of his head is covered, you’re okay. If you can see all of the president’s head, it’s time to replace that tire. A worn tire can cause your vehicle to skid and hydroplane.
2. A tire showing cuts, bald spots, or other damage will need to be replaced as this may lead to tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
Things to keep in mind when replacing tires:
• An improper or mismatched tire can contribute to a serious accident.
• Mixing tire types can reduce their grip on the road and lead to less control.
• Buy the correct size and type of tires recommended for your vehicle.
Keep it all aligned
It is important to make sure your wheels are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. This is not only is this for the safety of driver and passengers, the benefits go beyond helping make sure you have a safe ride.
Wheel alignment should be checked when you get a new set of tires, after a collision, or whenever any repairs or service is done to suspension or steering components.
• Other indicators that you should check alignment are that your vehicle pulls to the left or to the right when driving straight on level roads or your tires are unevenly worn.
• Getting regular wheel alignments (every 6,000 miles or 6 months) can help minimize tire wear, enhance handling, increase fuel efficiency, and improve driver safety.
