Why Tire Safety Is So Important

With winter in full strength...it's time to talk tire safety.  So many of us just jump in our cars and drive off to work, the mall or wherever without even thinking about tire safety.  Typically, we only think about it when something goes wrong.  By that time, it's too late. Nobody wants to be stuck on the side of the road.  So here are a few things to consider in order to keep your tires safe.

1. Don't mix tires. It's generally a good idea to have all 4 tires match or at least match in pairs.  However, some 4 wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicles require 4 matching tires. If you run into a problem and have only 1 tire fails, make sure the replacement is the same size and tread pattern as the rest, and preferably the same brand. 

2. Tire rotation is imperative.  No vehicles have even weight distribution.  And since the front tires are used for steering and in many vehicles propulsion, this makes them more susceptible to additional wear.  Tires should be rotated at 5,000 mile intervals. The good news here is if you buy your tires from Town Fair Tire.  We will rotate your tires every 5,000 miles for free!

3. Check your air pressure regularly.  Believe it or not, tires can lose air through the valve over time.  Low tire pressure is a huge safety concern.  When the tire is below the vehicle recommended tire pressure, your car can handle differently.  Not to mention a tire with very low air pressure can blow out due to abnormal stresses inflicted on the tire.  Every car or truck requires different PSI so check the drivers side door jam for the recommended PSI per your vehicle. 

4. Inspect your tires tread depth.  In most states 2/32" is considered the minimum safe tread depth. Most people don't own a tire tread depth tool, so the easy way to check this is insert a penny in the tread grooves, Lincoln head down.  If you can see any portion of the top of Lincolns head, your're below minimum tread depth and it's time to replace your tire. 

5. Nothing is better than a quick visual inspection. Inspecting your tires can help you find punctures or other visible signs of damage that could necessitate replacement. Every time you fill up at the gas station it's a good idea to walk around the car and first see if each tire looks properly inflated. Always check for damage to the sidewall or tread. And it's not a bad idea to turn the wheels to the side to check for any irregular wear patters in your front tires that could indicate a faulty wheel alignment.

Don't get stuck on the side of the road.  Take tire safety seriously!  If you have any questions, or feel like you need an extra set of eyes to take a look at your tires. Feel free to stop by into any one of our 91+ Town Fair Tire locations and an associate will be happy to assist you.  Visit www.townfairtire.com to use our store locator.