Do your PART! Proper tire care and safety is
simple and easy. We recommend checking your tires monthly,
including the spare. If you think you may have a tire problem or are
unsure of the condition of your tires, consult one of our Service
Consultants as soon as possible.
P is for Pressure
Underinflation is a tire's prime enemy. It results in unnecessary
tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control & accidents. A tire
can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!
A is for Alignment
Is your vehicle pulling to one side, or shaking? A bad jolt from
hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and
damage your tires. Have us check the alignment periodically to ensure
that your car is properly aligned.
R is for Rotation
Regularly rotating your vehicle's tires will help you achieve more
uniform wear. Unless your vehicle owner's manual has a specific
recommendation, the guideline for tire rotation is approximately every
5,000 miles.
T is for Tread
Measure it and inspect it. 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.
Summer Driving Tips
Tire Pressure
Make sure you check your tire pressure regularly - at least once
per month and before every long trip (including the spare) - and keep it
at the level recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
The correct cold inflation pressure for your tires is listed on the
vehicle label on the door post, fuel door, glove box or in the owners'
manual. "Cold inflation pressure" refers to the pressure in a tire that
has not been driven for at least three hours. As tires warm during
driving, it is normal for pressure to build up. Never "bleed" or reduce
air pressure when tires are hot.
The tire pressure listed on your sidewalls is the maximum pressure
and is not intended to serve as notification of the correct pressure.
Under inflation creates excessive stresses and heat and may lead to
tire failure. It is also important to guard against overinflation,
which can cause uneven wear plus handling and stopping problems.
Vehicle Loading and Overloading
Before you fill the trunk and the roof rack with your stuff, check
out the vehicle manufacturers recommendations for loading your vehicle.
You may not realize it, but you and your passengers count towards the
total recommended vehicle weight.
The vehicle manufacturers loading recommendation can be found on the
vehicle information placard on the door post or in the vehicle owners'
manual.
Overloading your vehicle creates excessive heat inside your tires.
Excessive heat can cause tire failure that could result in vehicle
damage and/or serious injury or even death.
And don't forget, if you are going to be driving long distances with a
loaded vehicle, or if you haven't had your car checked in a while, have
the alignment and rotation checked. Tires and wheels that are out of
balance or misaligned can cause uneven wear or vehicle problems. Have
your car checked by an automotive service professional before you leave.
Tread
Check the tread grooves of your tires to make sure that they're
free of foreign objects. This makes it easier for your tires to grip
the road and increases your ability to safely maneuver your car.
Also check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges
or other irregularities.
You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or
unusually smooth areas. Built-in treadwear indicators, or "wear bars,"
which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will
appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to one-sixteenth of an
inch. When you see these "wear bars," the tire is worn out and should
be replaced.
