TIRE INFO
Check Tire Pressure & Inflation
- Proper inflation is so important because of the following:
- Under inflation increases treadwear on the outer edges, and generates excessive heat, which can age tires faster.
- - Fuel economy is reduced as rolling resistance increases - soft tires make your vehicle work harder.
- - Too much air pressure causes the center tread to carry most of the car's weight, leading to faster deterioration and uneven wear.
- (To find the proper air pressure for your tires, look in your vehicle's owner's manual, on the sticker on the driver's side doorjamb, or in the glove box.)
Inspect Wear & Tear
To help maintain even treadwear and prolong tire life please take a look at the following:
- Getting your alignment checked as specified in your vehicle's owner's manual is the recommended way to prolong tire life.
- - Misalignment of the front or rear wheels can cause rapid or uneven wear. Front-wheel-drive vehicles and those with independent rear suspension require alignment of all four wheels, instead of two.
- - Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating your tires.
- A tire's tread directly affects how it grips the road, so it's important to regularly inspect it. These signs can include high or low areas, or unusually smooth ones.
- If your tires show uneven wear, ask an expert to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance, or other mechanical problem involved before rotation.***
- Check Tire Tread
Checking your tire tread every 3,000 miles is recommended.
The Penny Test
Insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires.
Before you head out in wet weather conditions check on the condition of your vehicle and tires.
- Tires are an underrated safety feature on your vehicle. They should have plenty of tread depth to evacuate standing water from between the road surface and the tire. If your current tires are worn down to anywhere near the wear bars (3/32nds or 4/32nds of an inch), it's time to think about replacing your tires.
- Tire pressures that are too low, or too high, can lead to reduced traction, premature tread wear, or tire failure. Your tire pressure should be checked regularly (at least once per month) to be sure they are properly inflated.
- Outward vision is critical to safe driving. Your vehicle's wiper blades should also be checked for age and wear. If they leave streaks across your windshield, it's time to replace them.
- Of course, it's just as important to be seen, as it is to see. Turn your lights on and be sure that all of your vehicle's lights are in working order. Use the full headlight system and not just the Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) in wet weather. With only your DRLs in use, the rear taillights are not activated and on wet roads the spray of the road can hide your vehicle from view, increasing your chances of being struck from behind. Your full headlight system will also make you more visible to oncoming traffic on wet roads.
If you're looking for other ways to be prepared for driving in the rain, explore all-season tires.
Tire Tips to Save Gas
Fuel-efficient tires can save you a bundle at the gas pump. For more tips to save gas utilizing your tires, see the list below:
Switching to fuel-efficient tires with low rolling resistance can help you use less gas. The fuel-saving tread compounds that they are made of will provide low rolling resistance, reducing energy to help save up to 2,500 miles worth of gas over the life of four tires.
- Give your tires some air. Underinflated tires lower your vehicle's gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 PSI drop in each tire.
Underinflated tires can also reduce the life span of your tires.
RetreadingRetreading is a process that takes a structurally sound tire and replaces the outer tread, making it possible to be used multiple times (up to 4-5 times for truck tires). Retreaded tires contain up to 75 percent recycled content. Manufacturing one new truck tire takes more than 20 gallons of oil. Most of the oil is found in the casing, which is reused in the retreading process. As a result, it takes about 7 or 8 gallons of oil to produce a retread.
Retreading helps to reduce the total cost of tires and is a contributing factor in better utilization of OUR natural resources.
For Much More INFO PLEASE VISIT the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration @ http://www.nhtsa.gov
- A tire's tread directly affects how it grips the road, so it's important to regularly inspect it. These signs can include high or low areas, or unusually smooth ones.