Many car owners neglect their tires.  Tires are the only parts of the car that touch the ground and they play a vital role in handling, braking and the safety of the vehicle.  Tires must be regularly checked not only for air pressure, but also for general wear and tear.  Regular checks are easy and can help you save money and increase the safety level of the car.

How To Assess Tires

Assessing tires requires visual inspection on a regular basis.  However, it is essential that one get acquainted with what a normal tire looks like before making an assessment.  Every car comes with a spare tire, so take a look at it to get an idea of what a normal tire looks like.

Look at the sides and assess for cracks, rips or cuts in the sidewalls.  Sometimes you may see large tears at the sides or even find a nail stuck inside the tire.

Check for irregular tread.  This often occurs due to uneven inflation, misaligned wheels, spoiled tires or problems with suspension.

Sometimes the tread is extremely worn out.  This is mostly due to aging.  Newer tires all have a tread wear indicator bar running across the middle.  The minimum allowable tread depth for safe driving is 1/16-inch.  If you notice that the tread has reached this level, it is time to get new tires.  You can even buy tread wear gauges, but most people fail to use them regularly, so they are not worth the expense.

When servicing your car, it is important to ensure that the tires are properly balanced.  Balancing tires evenly will ensure that the wheel and rim weight are equally distributed as they rotate.  Shimmying is often the result of unbalanced tires.

In addition to tire balancing, wheel alignment should be a regular part of scheduled car service.  Wheel alignment is important for prevention of uneven wear on tires.  It improves car performance and allows for better handling of the vehicle around corners and during braking.  The end result is a much longer life for your tires.  It is a good idea to get a wheel alignment whenever you purchase new tires.

If you want to assess tread wear, simply insert a US penny into a tire’s groove with Lincoln's head facing towards the tire.  If you are able to see the top of Abe's head, your tread is worn out.

Sometimes you may see uneven bulges on the side of the tire.  This is a warning that must be heeded.  Your car tire must be replaced immediately.  The bulges are usually due to weakening of the tubing inside and can lead to a sudden tire rupture.

Tire rotation is an important aspect of maintenance.  Tires should be rotated every 10,000 kilometres.  The aim of tire rotation is to achieve a more uniform wear on all tires on the vehicle.

Sometimes when you are driving, you may feel excessive vibration.  Tire vibration may signal a misaligned wheel, a bent wheel or there may be internal tire damage.  Vibration while driving should not be ignored.  Always get the car checked out immediately.

The Problem Of Under-Inflation

Driving a car with under-inflated tires is a major cause of tire failure.  Tire inflation can never be assessed visually.  It must be assessed with a pressure gauge.  Under-inflated tires are not only prone to damage and failure, but also lead to decreased fuel efficiency by as much as 3 to 5¢ per gallon.

Tire Inflation Maintenance Tips

Buy a tire gauge and make an effort to monitor the tire pressure at least once a month.  These gauges cost only $3 to $6.

To determine the recommended tire pressure, look at the placard in the car located either on a doorjamb, the fuel-filler door or on the inside of the glove compartment lid.  All tires have an imprint saying “maximum inflation pressure," but this number is inaccurate and should generally not be relied upon.  All cars have a spare tire and one should make sure that it is inflated to the pressure specified on the placard, usually 60 psi.

Tire pressure of a tire is best measured when it is cold.  If the car has been driven for a mile or two, the heat will increase the pressure and give you an inaccurate reading.

Tire Training

Visually inspect your tires on a regular basis.  If you note any of the above warning signs, have a professional inspection performed.