Tires are the key element connecting your vehicle and the road in all sorts of driving conditions. They affect your car’s ride, handling, traction and safety. So, checking your tires regularly is a great way to stay on top of your car’s care.
What to Watch For:
First of all, make sure to check tire condition and inflation pressure on a regular basis and have the tires rotated and balanced. This way, you will maximize not only the life of your tires but also the safety of your car. Secondly, check the tread depth – if it is below the minimum legal requirement, you may need to replace your tires. Tires are legally worn out when they have worn down to 2/32″ of remaining tread depth. You can quickly check this is by placing a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32″ of tread depth remaining. Finally, if the sidewalls of your tires are severely cracked or punctured you may need to replace your tires.
By the Numbers:
- 6,000 – number of miles after which you should rotate your tires. Tire rotation is an excellent opportunity to have your tires balanced as wheels become unbalanced due to normal tire wear.
- 3% or more – gas mileage improvement due to proper tire inflation.
- Once a month – check inflation pressure (including the spare).
- Once a year – check your vehicle’s alignment as part of your overall car maintenance.