When you think about tire safety and accident avoidance, you probably wonder if your vehicle needs new tires. If you do not want to be part of the alarming statistic of roughly 12,000 tire-related accidents each year, it is important to take the condition of your tires seriously.
Here are a few tire tips that will improve your chances:
- Check inflation — There are just three steps involved: Know what the PSI should be, own a tire pressure gauge or locate an inflation location that has them, and check the tire pressure once a month and adjust accordingly. Many newer vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system with a dashboard light to alert you if a tire has low pressure.
- Check tread — Look for worn spots and test the depth of the tread. This can be done easily by placing a penny in the tread with the Lincoln head upside down. You shouldn’t be able to see the top of Lincoln’s head. If you do, you need new tires.
- Get an alignment — Not only is an alignment the best way to preserve the life of your tires, but it also affects vehicle handling. Have the tires rotated and balanced every other oil change, or at about 7,000 to 10,000 miles.
- Age –It isn’t just mileage that wears out tires; it is age as well. If your tires are older than 6 years, you should consider new tires even if they still have a good amount of tread. Each tire has its own age recommendation, but most fall in the 6 to 10-year range.
- Condition —Weather conditions can damage your tires over time. A tire protectant can prevent UV and ozone damage, and is particularly important if your vehicle is not garaged.
If you are unsure whether your vehicle’s tires are safe, stop by and see us at Highway Tire Auto & Lube in Terrell, North Carolina. We’ll inspect your tires for you and let you know if we recommend new tires. We have a wide variety of new tires, which makes it easy to match your vehicle and your budget.