Tire Maintenance & Safety

Proper tire care and safety are simple and easy. The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends taking five minutes every month and before every long trip to check your tires, including the spare. Just remember to "Be Tire Smart - Play Your PART: Pressure, Alignment, Rotation, Tread."

Pressure:  Under-inflation is a tire's #1 enemy. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!

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 a tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.

Rotation:  Promotes uniform tire wear. 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 5,000-8,000 miles.

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.

Pressure

It's important to have the proper air pressure in your tires, as underinflation may lead to tire failure. The right amount of air for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and is shown on the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove box door or fuel door. It is also listed in the owner's manual.

Checking Tire Pressure:

  1. When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are cool - meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile. (NOTE: If you have to drive a distance to get air, check and record the tire pressure first and add the appropriate air pressure when you get to the pump. It is normal for tires to heat up and the air pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never "bleed" or reduce air pressure when tires are hot.)
  2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire. 
  3. Firmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.
  4. Add air to achieve recommended air pressure.
  5. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen. Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
  6. Replace the valve cap. 
  7. Repeat with each tire, including the spare. (NOTE: Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure.)
  8. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air leak.
  9. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregularities.

NOTE: Air pressure in a tire goes up (in warm weather) or down (in cold weather) 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change.

Alignment

Misalignment of wheels in the front or rear can cause uneven and rapid treadwear and should be corrected by a tire dealer. Front-wheel-drive vehicles and those with independent rear suspension require alignment of all four wheels. Have your alignment checked periodically as specified by the vehicles' owners manual or whenever you have an indication of trouble such as "pulling" or vibration. Also, have your tire balance checked periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular wear.

Rotation

Tire rotation can help prevent irregular wear and extend the life of your tires. Consult your vehicle's owners manual, the tire manufacturer or your tire dealer for the appropriate rotation pattern for your vehicle. NOTE: If your tires show uneven wear, ask your tire dealer to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation. Before rotating your tires, always refer to your vehicle’s owner's manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated approximately every 5,000-8,000 miles.

Tread

Tires must be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch in order to prevent skidding and hydroplaning. An easy test: place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln's head is covered by the tread, you're driving with the proper amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, you should buy a new tire. 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.

Visually check your tires for signs of uneven wear. You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.