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Tyre Safety
Pressure
Underinflation results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of
control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not
appear to be flat! Policy
How to Check Air Pressure
Refer to your vehicle's owners manual for the proper level
of inflation; it may also be posted on the door post or in the glove box.
When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are
cool - meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile. (Note: If you have to
drive a distance to get air, check and record the tire pressure first and add
the appropriate air pressure when you get to the pump. It is normal for tires
to heat up and the air pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never
"bleed" or reduce air pressure when tires are hot.)
Remove the cap from the tire valve, firmly press a tire
gauge onto the valve and note the reading.
Add air to achieve recommended air pressure.
If you overfill the tire, you can release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a
pen. Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
Replace the valve cap.
Repeat with each tire, including the spare (Note: Some spare
tires require higher inflation pressure).
Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of
alignment and damage your tires. Have a tire dealer check the alignment
periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.
Why Check Your Alignment?
If your car's suspension system is out of alignment, your
tires will wear unevenly and you may experience handling problems. Potholes and
rough roads can contribute to problems with alignment.
Front-wheel drive vehicles, and those with independent rear suspension,
require alignment of all four wheels
Have a tire dealer check your alignment periodically as
specified by your vehicle's owners manual or if handling problems develop,
such as "pulling" or vibration.
Also have your tire balance checked periodically. An
unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular wear.
Rotation
Regularly rotating your vehicle's tires will help you achieve more uniform
wear. Unless your vehicle's owners manual has a specific recommendation, the
guideline for tire rotation is approximately every 6,000 miles.
Why Rotate Your
Each tire on your car supports a different amount of weight;
this unequal weight distribution causes your tires to wear at different rates.
By rotating your tires, you can extend their useful life.
If your tires show uneven wear, ask your tire dealer to
check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation.
Sometimes front and rear tires use different pressures.
After rotation, adjust individual tire air pressure to the figures recommended
for each wheel position by the vehicle manufacturer.
Tread
Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in
adverse conditions. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high
and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.
How to Check Tread
When the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, tires must
be replaced.
All tires have "wear bars," which are small, raised
bars of rubber in the groove that indicate when tires are worn out. If your
tread is worn down to the wear bars, it's time for a new tire.
Also make sure no nails or other objects are embedded in the
tire. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible if you see problems.
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