Maintenance Tips: Tires

Tire Tactics

Under- or over-inflation of tires can:

	cause uneven tread wear
	weaken your tires
	reduce traction
	impact gas mileage
	reduce the number of miles you get out of your tires

Eventually, you could have inconvenient flats or even dangerous blowouts. Over-inflation means the weight of your vehicle is not distributed evenly across the entire tread but is instead concentrated on a thin strip in the center. Under-inflation means the tire is soft and the outside edges work harder than the softer center. The extra rolling resistance makes your vehicle work harder to move and it can reduce gas mileage.

Be sure to check your tire pressure regularly and maintain the recommended pressure listed in your vehicle's owner's manual. You can usually find this recommended pressure on a sticker posted in the trunk, on the door pillar or in the glove compartment.

Each of your tires will wear differently due to its position and the type of vehicle you own. So tires will wear evenly, remember to balance and rotate your tires according to manufacturer's recommendations.

To check tread wear, use "the penny trick:"

1.	Insert a penny into the tread groove with Abe Lincoln's face showing, but with his head upside-down.
2.	If you can see all of Abe Lincoln's head, it's probably time to replace your tires

If you live in a moderate climate, warming up an engine is not typically necessary. If you live in a freezing climate, you should let the engine run (without pressing the gas pedal) for a few minutes so the oil can circulate through the engine and get it ready to run.