Do your tires look like this?
Didn’t we all learn how to check our tires in driver’s ed?
Yes, but…a refresher course is always useful.
Here’s the latest information and techniques on checking your tires for wear and proper inflation. Reading this could save you:
• From a nasty blowout on the highway and all the danger to life and limb (plus all the aggravation) that goes with that.
• Money -- Underinflated tires increase tire wear, which could burn through a set of tires a whole year early.
• Gasoline (therefore more money!) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 5 million gallons of fuel per day are wasted due to low tire pressure. That's approaching 2 billion gallons per year, just because people don't take the time to inflate their tires properly.
• From needless pollution - Saving on 2 billion gallons of fuel per year also reduces greenhouse gas emission from burning that fuel. So, you can help yourself and your planet at the same time!
• Money -- Underinflated tires increase tire wear, which could burn through a set of tires a whole year early.
• Gasoline (therefore more money!) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates that 5 million gallons of fuel per day are wasted due to low tire pressure. That's approaching 2 billion gallons per year, just because people don't take the time to inflate their tires properly.
• From needless pollution - Saving on 2 billion gallons of fuel per year also reduces greenhouse gas emission from burning that fuel. So, you can help yourself and your planet at the same time!
Make it a monthly habit to check your tires for wear. Also check your tires before and after long trips. What you find will tell you whether you need to buy new tires, have your wheels balanced and/or aligned, or change the way you drive altogether.
There are dozens of informative web sites that give detailed directions on how to check your tires’ tread and inflation and then interpret the results. Here are just a few.
Dummies.com has a great reference table for things that could be wrong with your tires – listing the clue, the culprit and the remedy for just about every conceivable problem.
Visit: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/checking-your-tires-for-wear.html
eHow.com outlines how to check the tread on your tires:
• Buy a depth gauge available at auto parts stores.
• Place the pointed end of the depth gauge between two treads and allow the wide cylinder to rest on top of the tread.
• Read the measurement on the shaft of the gauge--measurements are clearly marked along the side. This is the thickness from the top of the tread to the bare tire.
• Measure the tread closest to the inside edge (nearest the car). Write that measurement down.
• Measure the tread in the center of the tire and write it down.
• Measure the tread closest to you, on the outside edge, and write that measurement down.
• Look at the three measurements. If they differ, you might need to rotate your tire to even out the wear. If the tire tread depth is below 3/32 inches at any point, the tire needs to be replaced.
• Place the pointed end of the depth gauge between two treads and allow the wide cylinder to rest on top of the tread.
• Read the measurement on the shaft of the gauge--measurements are clearly marked along the side. This is the thickness from the top of the tread to the bare tire.
• Measure the tread closest to the inside edge (nearest the car). Write that measurement down.
• Measure the tread in the center of the tire and write it down.
• Measure the tread closest to you, on the outside edge, and write that measurement down.
• Look at the three measurements. If they differ, you might need to rotate your tire to even out the wear. If the tire tread depth is below 3/32 inches at any point, the tire needs to be replaced.
Even better, here are two good videos explaining how to check and interpret tire wear. http://www.ehow.com/video_7682_interpret-tire-wear.html http://www.ehow.com/video_4757150_interpret-tire-wear.html
Remember this: Check the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Tires heat up as they drive. They take about a half hour to cool down. Or you can just check the tires first thing in the morning.
Edmunds.com also details how to check your tires visit:
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/articles/125093/article.html
