When to Replace Tires

Retire Your Tires When They Lose Their Groove

The Becker Law Office supports National Safety Month and National Safety Tire Week by emphasizing the importance of monthly tire inspections and maintaining properly inflated tires, as underinflated tires contribute to fatalities and injuries, and provides helpful tips on tire maintenance.

June is National Safety Month, and also the month we recognize National Safety Tire Week. The Becker Law Office supports these efforts to educate drivers about the importance of monthly tire inspections and maintaining properly inflated tires.

In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, most people don’t take much time thinking about their tires. That’s unfortunate. Under inflated tires play a part in more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries annually; according to the NHTSA, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The danger from under inflated tires comes as heat builds up within the tire sometimes causing tire failure, especially during distance and highway travel. “Tires are a critical safety component on vehicles and the only parts that touch the road,” explains NHTSA Administrator David L. Strickland.

A recent survey by the Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (RMA) found that 8 out of 10 vehicle owners do not know how to properly inflate their vehicle’s tires. “Checking tire pressure takes just five minutes and it’s worth every second,” says RMA President and CEO Charles Cannon. RMA suggests you,

Be Tire Smart- Play Your PART

P = Pressure

• Check the pressure on all your tires and your spare once a month and before going on long trips.
• Test pressure when tires are cool.
• Remember that tire pressure changes 1-2 lbs. for every 10 degrees of temperature change, and about a pound a month from expected air seepage.
• Follow tire pressure recommendations outlined in your owner’s manual, on the inside of the driver’s side door or inside the glove box.
• DO NOT fill your tires to the amount listed on the inside of the tires; that is the maximum inflation amount for the tire but may not be correct for your vehicle.

A= Alignment

• Proper alignment of your tires helps ensure a safe ride and prevents uneven wear and tear on your tires. Your vehicle owner’s manual outlines recommended alignment intervals.
• Alignment is probably also needed if your car is “pulling” to one side or the other, there is a vibration while driving, or you notice uneven wear and tear on your tires.

R = Rotation

• Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles unless otherwise specified by the car manufacturer. Check your Owner’s Manual for recommended tire rotation intervals.

T = Tread

• Visually inspect tire tread for wear and tear, foreign objects, gouges and punctures.
• Time for new tires when the “wear bars” built into the tire are level with the tire tread.
• Measure the tread by doing the Penny Test – put a penny upside down into the tread groove. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to go tire shopping.

If you need to replace a tire, replace them in pairs or complete sets.

And remember, if you are injured as a result of someone else’s negligence in failing to properly maintaining their tires, the Becker Law Office has helped thousands of injured people and is here to help you get the money you deserve.