Tire Safety

Tire Safety

Remember that in winter weather, stopping is often the hard part, and it’s the tires that do the stopping. So take proper care of them. They are a critical part of the three-member team-your car, your tires, and you – that can get you through the winter safely if you follow the rules.

First, think about your tires. Are they rated as all-season tires? That means they have a tread designed to give you better traction in the wet and in the snow.

Are they properly inflated? The answer may well be “no”, because as the temperature outside drops, the air inside a tire contracts and the pressure drops – one or two pounds for every ten-degree drop. Contrary to common belief, under-inflation does not give tires better traction in the snow. It only makes them more vulnerable to damage. Winter or summer, your tire’s worst enemy is under-inflation. Of course, you should check your tires when the weather turns cold, and bring them up to correct pressure.

Your Tire Maintenance Checklist

Pressure: Under-inflation results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!

Alignment: A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tires. Check the alignment periodically.

Rotation: Regularly rotating your vehicle’s tires will help you achieve more uniform wear. Unless you vehicle’s owners manual has a specific recommendation, the guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 6,000 miles.

Tread: Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.

Practice good driving habits, which will help keep your tires in good condition.

Tire Safety 2

·Obey posted speed limits. ·Avoid fast starts, stops and turns. ·Avoid potholes and other objects on the road. ·Do not run over curbs or hit your tires against the curb when parking. ·Do not overload your vehicle. Check your vehicle’s tire information or owner’s manual for the maximum recommended load for the vehicle.

If properly cared for, tires can last a long

time – usually form 40,000 to 80,000 miles,

depending on the application.