Expert Contributor by Lou Matteo
Safe Tires: Vital to Summer Driving
Edgemont Automotive
Drivers are often concerned about winter tire conditions so they don’t get stuck in snow, but most drivers don’t consider how low tire tread dangers affect summertime driving. The truth is tires need good tread in all seasons. In the same way that deep tire tread helps wick away the snow to help the tire remain in contact with the road, in the spring and summer months, good tire tread will help you maintain control instead of gliding on top of the water (hydroplaning). Tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. New tires typically come with about 10/32 to 12/32 of an inch of tread. Most states have a minimum tread depth specification, and in Pennsylvania, a tread depth of 2/32 or less indicates an unsafe tire. Other conditions like dry rot and road hazards may also doom a tire even if the tread depth is good. There are built-in indicators on tires called wear bars. When the wear bars touch two adjacent treads, the tire is worn out. Have you heard of the penny trick or the quarter test? Place a
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Lou Matteo Edgemont Automotive
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Complete Vehicle Repair Import • Domestic • Trailers FREE Pickup, Delivery and Drop off • Computerized four wheel alignment • PA Safety Inspection & Emission Testing • Tires • Brakes • Engine Diagnostics • Scheduled Maintenance • Heating & A/C • Electrical systems • Suspension • Body Control Systems
Call TODAY for an appointment! 5040 West Chester Pike, Edgemont
Camino Commons Shopping Center, adjacent to the Edgemont Post Office
610-353- 9868 • www.EdgemontAutomotive.com 20
Newtown Square Friends & Neighbors
July 2022
penny upside down in the tread. If any part of Lincoln’s head can be seen, you need a new tire because your tread is less than the minimum depth for passing Pennsylvania inspection requirements. Using the same methodology but with George Washington’s head on a quarter, experts say that the quarter test represents 4/32" tread depth, which is the minimum for best performance of the tire. Inspection stations use tread depth gauge readings in three different locations for an official depth-reading. Dry rot can be seen either on the sidewall of the tire as a cross-hatched pattern or lines of cracks around the circumference of the tire. The deeper the cracks, the less safe the tire is. It’s best to let a professional determine if dry rot or sidewall damage is safe enough to keep that tire in service. All vehicle manufacturers today specify what size, load range and speed rating tires should maintain for that particular vehicle to maintain the correct ride and safety features designed for it. This information is on a decal located on the driver’s door frame area and also in the owner’s manual. To avoid drivetrain damage, use the correct tire size, especially in all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles. Some high-end vehicles come with summer or performance tires, even all-wheel drive SUVs. Manufacturers put these tires on to enhance the handling qualities of the vehicle. If the vehicle is only driven in the warm weather, then all is well. If the vehicle is used year-round, those summer tires may not stick to the road so well in the colder months, raising control issues. In that case, you can switch to all-season performance tires as long as the size and speed rating specifications are followed. Ask your repair facility for details. Have a happy and safe summer driving season!
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