Important Tire Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

At Dana’s Tire Center, we’ve been in the tire business for quite a while, and one theme that repeats itself over and over is how few people actually pay attention to their tires until something starts to go wrong. If you own a car, it’s important for you to constantly keep an eye on the condition of your tires so you can stay safe on the road. Here are just a few tire safety tips from our auto shop in Athens County, OH for you to keep in mind:

• Never mix tires: If you have a tire that needs to be replaced due to a puncture or poor condition, but are only able to afford replacing that single tire, you should make sure it’s a tire that’s the exact same size and tread pattern as the other tires on your vehicle, and ideally the same brand as well. It’s best to at least replace your tires in pairs (all four at once is even better if you can swing it), but if you have to replace just one, you should avoid mixing tires at all costs, as this could result in some unpredictable handling.
• Keep an eye on your tire pressure: Your tires will lose air through the valves over time. Even a single underinflated tire will result in decreased fuel efficiency. Plus, tires that are low on air will wear down quicker, as the greater amount of friction will generate more heat that damages the rubber. Most modern vehicles have automatic pressure gauge sensors built into them, so you should receive low pressure alerts if your tires’ air pressure dips below a certain point, but it’s still a good idea to check manually every now and then as well.
• Inspect the treads: The general standard for tread depth is 1/16”. The best way to check the depth of your treads is to use the penny test. Take a penny and insert it into the grooves with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you’re able to see the top of Lincoln’s head, you’re at below minimum tread depth. You can do the same with a quarter—if you can see the top of Washington’s head, you’re below 1/8” tread depth, which means you’re at least starting to get close to replacement time.
• Keep an eye on general tire condition: The tread isn’t the only aspect of your tire condition with which you should concern yourself. Keep an eye out for any damage done to the tire on the sidewall, or any foreign objects that might have lodged themselves in the tire. You can also look for signs of uneven wear, which could be indicative of other problems with the vehicle, such as a misaligned suspension.
• Rotate: You should rotate your tires regularly. This will help ensure more even wear of the tires, as no vehicle will have weight evenly distributed from front to rear. The front tires will always wear out faster due to cornering and braking.

For more information about tire safety issues, contact Dana’s Tire Center or visit our auto shop in Athens County, OH today.

Categorised in: Tires

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