Safe Tires Check-Up

It’s road–trip season. But before you set out on your summer adventures, make sure your tires will get you there safely.

Make sure every driver in your household learns to follow these basic tire maintenance and safety strategies:

• Locate tire information. A tire information placard, found on the driver’s side door frame, provides recommended tire size as well as pressure in cold PSI (pounds/square inch).
• Check tire pressure once a month. You can’t detect under– or over–inflation by looking at your tires. Keep a tire gauge in your glove box and use it to make sure your tires are inflated properly. Too little or too much air leads to tire damage and uneven wear.
• Keep an eye on the tread. To maintain traction and control on slippery roads, you need more than 1/16th of an inch of tread. Use the penny trick — insert a penny (facing you with Lincoln’s head down) into the tire tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you need new tires.
• Rotate your tires — every 5000 to 6000 miles for optimal wear.
• Keep them aligned. Proper balance and alignment will extend the life of your tires and prevent your car from veering sideways on a level road. For more details on tire and vehicle safety, visit Safercar.gov.