The Rubber Manufacturers Association has developed some helpful advice on how to master your basic tire maintenance in their 4-step program “Be Tire-Smart – Play Your P.A.R.T.”
1. Pressure: Keeping tires properly inflated is a safety factor, but can also increase your gas mileage.
- Check inflation monthly and before long trips.
- Always check inflation pressure when the tires are cool. Even a short one-mile drive can create enough heat to distort the reading. Check tire pressure at home, then add the appropriate amount at the gas station. Never reduce inflation when tires are hot!
- Don’t forget to check the spare!
2. Alignment: Misaligned wheels can cause uneven and rapid wear on the tread. Have your alignment checked periodically by a tire dealer, or whenever you feel the vehicle pull.
3. Rotation: If no rotation period is specified in the owner’s manual, aim to have your tires rotated approximately every 5,000 – 8,000 miles.
4. Tread: Check your tire tread and replace when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. How much is 2/32? Use this easy method:
Place a penny in the tread groove upside down. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, your tires still have good tread. If you can see the whole head and hair, invest in a new tire.
Most newer tires have so-called ‘wear-bars’ across the tread. When the top of the wear bar is flush with the tire tread, the tire is worn out and needs to be replaced.
Did you know that there’s an Expiration Date on tires?
Aside from usage and driving habits, tires can reach their expiration date due to the disintegration of the rubber. That’s why lightly used tires on older cars or spare tires can become dangerous safety hazards if the rubber has become old and brittle (which can be hard to detect.)
To determine the age of the tire, check the DOT number on the side wall. The last 4 digits indicate the week and year the tire was built. The recommended age for tires varies between manufacturers, but tires should be replaced after 6 to 8 years even if they still have tread.