Recent research by the Rubber Manufacturers Association tells us that more people wash their cars each month than properly check their tire pressure. But a clean car is not going to do much to keep us safe on the roads. Adding a few minutes to your fall car care routine to check your tires will help keep you safer this season. Here are some simple tips:
* Examine the tread on your tires once per month and before every long trip. Your tires should have at least one-sixteenth of an inch of tread depth, which is the legal limit in most states. Perform the “penny test” by inserting a penny in the tread at several points on the tire, with Lincoln’s head pointed down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tread is worn and the tire probably needs to be replaced.
* Take a good look at your tires. Uneven tread wear could mean a number of different problems: under- or overinflation, tires out of balance or wheels out of alignment. If your tread appears to be wearing unevenly, ask your TiresPlus service professional to take a look.
* Don’t neglect the signals your tires are sending you. Tires have “wear bars” built...