Proper inflation is the easiest way to give your tires a longer life. Your tires will wear longer, save fuel and help prevent accidents.
To determine the proper amount of pressure your tires require, check the sticker on the inside of the driver door or your owner's manual. Check tires pressures in all four tires and the spare at least once per month and before every long road trip. Check pressures when the tires are cold, meaning they have been driven less than one mile and/or the car has been sitting for at least 3 hours.
Tires normally lose air through permeation. They may lose 1 to 2 pounds of air per month in cool weather, and more in warm weather. A tire that repeatedly needs air should be taken to a professional to evaluate for leaks. (This is an inexpensive process.)
Air pressure normally increases when tires are hot. Underinflation of a tire results in heat build up and is the leading cause of tire failure. The only way to accurately measure this is with a tire pressure gauge. Buy your own gauge, as gas station gauges may be inaccurate due to age or abuse. It is extremely important to note that one cannot tell simply by looking at the tires if they are inflated properly! Radial tires have a characteristic bulge in the sidewall, even when properly inflated.
INSPECTION
Once per month, perhaps while checking the pressures, you should inspect your tires.
1. Check for damage including knots, bulges, punctures, cuts, cracks and glass or gravel in the tread.
2. Check for uneven tire wear. This can be an indicator of improper inflation, misalignment, improper balance, or suspension problems.
3. Check the amount of tire wear. Tires are legally worn out in the US when the tread is at 1/16th of an inch. At this level, the tire's built in wear bars will appear. These look like narrow strips of smooth rubber than intermittently run across the tire. When these are at the level of the tread, the tires must be replaced. Another tip to help determine when to replace tires is to use "The Penny Test". Take a penny and insert it into the tire tread, Lincoln's head facing down. If you can see
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