Four Tire Safety Tips for Every Driver
Taking a few minutes to check your tires regularly can help keep you on the road for the long term. After all, tires are all that stands between you and the road and it's important to keep them in the best shape for your safety.
By following these simple steps, you can help make sure that you can keep rolling with confidence.
Check Your tire pressure:
Use a tire pressure gauge to make sure your tire pressure aligns with the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure tire safety.
Over or under-inflated tires can lead to major issues including flats, blowouts, brake issues, quicker tread wear and more. Often, your TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system) sensor/light may alert you to a potential issue.
Learn more on how to find your tire’s recommended pressure by reading the linked article.
Inspect for potential problems:
Inspect your tires for any potential issues including punctures or uneven wear. In addition to checking out the tread of your tire, run your hand along the side wall of each tire to feel for any bulges.
A bulge signals a weak area in your tire that needs to be checked by a mechanic right away to lower your risk for a flat or blowout.
Prioritze Wheel Alignment, Tire Rotation and Balanced Tires:
It’s important to align, rotate and balance your tires regularly to get better gas mileage, an all-around smoother ride, and maximize the overall life of your tires.
Check your tread:
“Tread” is the series of grooves on your tires that help provide traction. The tread depth is a measurement between the top of the tread and the lowest groove. Over time, tread can wear down, making it easier for your car to slide over wet or icy road conditions.
Make sure that your tread is in good shape by taking the tire penny test. Simply take a penny and place it between your tire tread blocks with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If Lincoln's head is buried, your tires still have more than 2/32" of tread. But if you can see Lincoln’s head, it’s time to bring your car in for service.
Have questions? Pep Boys is here to help!
Make an appointment today to have one of our skilled professionals inspect your tires to make sure you keep running smoothly.
