Tire Safety - What You Need to Know

Tire Safety - What You Need to Know
Tires aren't just your car's shoes; they are your car's feet. They're just as important for the safe operation of your car as any other part of your car. One of the biggest causes of tire problems is under inflation - fortunately, this is the one thing that you have direct control over. Maintain proper tire pressure at all times by checking the pressure frequently and keeping them at the pressure rated for your tires.

You'll also need to make sure that you're using the recommended tire size for your car. This varies depending on the car. There's also another rating - the vehicle capacity weight (VCW) - that can be helpful. The VCW is the maximum occupant and cargo weight that a car or truck can carry. That won't be as big of an issue for standard passenger cars, but may become important if you're hauling large loads in addition to several passengers. In any event, these numbers are located on stickers or placards inside the frame of the door or in the trunk lid.

In general, it's important to check your tire pressure at least once a month, although once a week wouldn't be too aggressive. Regular checks are a must because tires naturally lose air over time. In addition, a puncture can occur without a dramatic loss of air and with radial tires, it's nearly impossible to tell visually when a tire has lost pressure.

A tire gauge is the only way to tell how well inflated your tires are. They're easily purchased at a variety of different stores - you can even purchase digital tire gauges that take the guesswork out of manual gauges. To get the best reading, check the tire when cold - not when the weather is cold, but rather when the tire has been allowed to sit for at least three hours.

If the pressure is too low - which is the most likely case - add air from a pump. They can be found at gas stations, convenience stores and many other outlets. Be sure that all of your tires have the same pressure. In the unlikely event that there's too much pressure in a tire, use the small knob on the back of the gauge to release some of the air. Then, check all the tires again as outlined before.

While checking the pressure, also look at the tread wear. Any dips or dishing means that you need to replace the tire. But even if the tread is even and looks fine, it may still need to be replaced. To check for tread wear, dig out a penny and place it in the tread. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to get new tires.

In addition, the self-repair of tires used to be very popular and a minor puncture is still repairable by the home mechanic, but with the pressure ratings and steel belting on many new tires, a tire shop will not only be able to patch the tire, it will be able to tell you if the tire is safe to patch. If in doubt, it's always better to have the professionals take a look at your tire than to attempt to make unsafe repairs yourself.

The author writes for Vital Motion, a complete car information site. Learn car buying and selling tips, as well as other helpful information such as what credit score you need to buy a car.