Tire safety tips
Checking tires is quick and easy - and vital to safety


Tires are one of the most important -- and oft-overlooked -- components of our cars. Automakers can spend all the
time and money they want on engineering a car for handling are comfort, but in the end, the tires are the only thing
that attach our car to the road. A problem with a tire affects ride comfort, handling and safety. Here are some simple
tire safety tips to help keep you and your car's occupants safe.

Check your tire pressure regularly. Tires tend to lose air over time. Buy a digital tire gauge and check your tires once
a month and before a long trip. Proper inflation pressures can be found in your owner's manual or on a sticker on the
car (usually on the driver's doorjamb or fuel-filler lid) Remember to check tire pressure only after the car has been
sitting for several hour in order to ensure that the tires are cold -- the friction of driving heats the tires and increases
pressure, which can hide an under-inflated tire.

Address under-inflated tires immediately. An under-inflated tire has more rolling resistance which increases fuel
consumption. It also creates more heat, which can lead to tire failure.

Don't forget the spare. Getting a flat tire and discovering that your spare is flat too is a miserable experience. Inspect
your spare as you would your other tires. If you have a compact spare, the inflation pressure will usually be written on
the tire. If your car comes with a compressor and/or flat repair kit in lieu of a spare, check their operation regularly.

Check for tread depth. Check tread depth by placing the edge of a penny upside-down into the grooves of the tire's
tread. (Photo here.) If you can see all of Lincoln's head, it's time for a new set of tires. Never buy a single tire -- it's
best to replace all four tires at once, but at the very least they should be bought as axle pairs (both fronts or both
rears). Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles will help ensure that all four tires wear at the same rate.

Check for even wear. When you check tread depth, check both the inside and outside edge of the tires. Uneven tire
wear is usually a sign that your car is out of alignment. Proper alignment optimizes handling and helps prevent
premature tire wear.

Look for tire damage. When you check pressure, inspect the sides of the tires for nicks, bubbles, cracks and cuts.
Damage like that usually cannot be repaired and will require replacement of the tire.

Stay balanced. If your car develops a shack (a vibration felt through the steering wheel) at a certain speed, it's
possible that one of your tires has lost its balance weight. Having your tires re-balanced is a fairly inexpensive
procedure.

Buy the right tire for the job. Living where it's always warm and dry, "summer" performance tires can vastly improve
your car's handling.
R & R Motors, LLC
205-629-7867
TIRE SHOP