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Tire Safety - Check PSI before hitting the road - If you’re like most people, tire safety isn’t something you think about too much—unless you get a flat. But during the rainy season, tire safety is more important than ever. Even if you don’t know your way around the garage, it’s easy to give your vehicle’s tires a basic check up once a month.
Five minutes is all it takes to check tire pressure, or PSI (pounds per square inch), with a gauge, and visually inspect tires. Look for uneven tread wear, foreign objects, and other debris that may be wedged into the tread. If you monitor your tires regularly, you can: |
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· Help prevent tire failure,· Increase the life of your tires,· Improve your car’s handling, and· Save money on fuel. |
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You may even end up saving a life or two—yours included. The Lowdown on Pressure - Since most tires gradually lose air over time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) advises that you check the pressure of all of your vehicle’s tires, including the spare, monthly. You might want to check the pressure even more frequently, particularly before a long trip. To accurately check tire pressure, you’ll need to purchase a tire gauge at a tire dealership, auto parts store, or other retailer. Keep the gauge inside your vehicle so you will always have it available to check pressure at the optimal time. The right time to check pressure is when the tires are "cold," meaning the car hasn’t been driven for at least three hours. Driving even one mile can heat tires and lead to inaccurate pressure readings. Remember to always fill tires to levels recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. This information is listed on a label typically found inside the driver’s side doorframe or in the vehicle owner’s manual. Do not under inflate tires in the hopes of achieving a smoother ride—there is a common misperception that slightly lowering the PSI level results in a more "comfortable" ride. In fact, it doesn’t. Moreover, this practice can lead to vehicle overload and associated tire failure. |
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What’s A Penny Worth? As a tire maintenance tool, a penny’s worth a lot more than you might think. Tire tread provides the traction your vehicle needs to prevent it from slipping or sliding—especially on wet or icy roads. When the tread wears down to 1/16 of an inch, tires are not safe and should be replaced. |
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While tires have built-in tread wear indicators, or "wear bars," that become visible when tires need to be replaced, you can also test tread wear with a Lincoln-head penny. Simply turn the penny so that Lincoln’s head is pointing down and insert it into the tread. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires. Finally, if you notice uneven tread wear on your tires, this is a result of wheel misalignment, improperly balanced tires, or the need for tire rotation. Check with your tire provider to have the vehicle properly serviced to rectify the problem. |
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For more information about tire safety, visit the NHTSA vehicle safety Web site at www.safercar.gov today. |
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Reprinted from The Reconstructor, Newsletter of Boster, Kobayashi & Associates, Fall 2005. |
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