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Tire Care
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How
Do You Know You Need New Tires?
Take a quick, but careful look at your tires. Determine how much tread
your tires have, and if your tire is in generally good condition.
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Check
your tread
with a penny
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A minimum of 2/32". Manufacturers' specifications and safety
require that your tires have 2/32" or more tread depth. To check,
simply turn a penny so Abraham Lincoln's image is upside-down and
insert into the tread groove. If you have too little tread, you'll see
the top of President Lincoln's head (a mere 2/32" from the coins
edge).
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Locate the
built-in wear indicators.
Tires now have built-in "wear indicators" on tires - at
2/32". Several wear indicators will be found in each groove all the
way around the tire. When a tire's tread has worn away such that you can
see the wear indicator - a visible bridge which appears between the
raised portion of the tread, or a visible block in the recessed portion
of the tread - your tire probably needs to be replaced.
Check several
tread grooves.
Look for flat spots or uneven tread wear patterns. Uneven tread wear can
indicate several problems, which may or may not be corrected by replacing
your tires. For example, "cupping", a series of flat spots on
the edge of the tread indicates a problem with the internal structure of
the tire. Whereas, excessive wear on the outside edge of a tire may mean
your car is out of alignment.
Inspect
sidewalls for bulges or other damage.
Bulging tire sidewalls can be an indicator of structural problems with
your tire. Have them professionally checked - immediately.
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Proper
Inflation
It is essential to maintain proper inflation, or air pressure, in your
tires. The inflation pressure specified on the tire's sidewall is the
maximum air pressure appropriate for the tire. However, vehicle
specifications for the tire's air pressure may vary and are generally
found on the door section, doorpost, glove compartment door, or fuel
door.
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Tire Rotation
The purpose of rotating tires is to maximize their life by allowing more
uniform treadwear. Follow the information in your owner's manual, if
there's nothing specific, you should rotate your tires every 5,000 -
8,000 miles. Incidentally, four-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive
vehicles place greater stress on their front tires, so rotating tires
regularly will significantly extend the life of your tires.
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Balancing
Properly balanced tires and wheels spin with all their weight distributed
equally. When your tires are installed, balancing should be part of the
installation procedure.
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Wheel
Alignments
Simply put, alignments insure your wheels are pointed in the optimum
direction with respect to each other and, of course, the road. So, we
recommend you have a qualified mechanic check your alignment once each
year. By checking your own tires once each month will help you identify
uneven treadwear early and, by aligning, extend your treadlife. And,
always have your wheels aligned when you put new tires on your vehicle.
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