Tire Tips for Safe Summer Driving

By Desert Star Staff

As temperatures rise during the summer, the friction from your vehicle’s tires rolling, turning, and braking, combined with higher pavement temperatures, could lead to potential trouble while on the road.

While added variables like increased traffic due to summer travelers, construction, sun glare, and unpredictable weather can all increase your risks, knowing the condition of your vehicle and one of its most essential componentsthe tires - can help keep you safe on the roadways. Whether traveling across the country for vacation or just across town, consider these tire safety tips from your neighborhood America’s Tire store experts.

Know Your Tires’ Age: The older your tires, the higher their risk for failure. The rubber becomes hard and brittle as tires age, losing elasticity and strength. The age of your tires can be found by checking the Tire Identification Number stamped on their sidewalls. Any tire over six years old should be replaced, but tires should generally be replaced in sets of two or four to help ensure even wear and maximum safety.

Check Your Tread: Tread depth, which refers to the tread on a tire, determines a vehicle’s safe stopping distance and impacts handling and traction. More impression equals better road grip and shorter stopping distances. Stick a penny upside-down in a tread groove to check your tread depth at home. If President Lincoln’s entire head is visible, your tread is worn beyond what tire experts recommend as safe - less than 4/32 inch - and it’s time to replace your tires. If you need assistance, visit a store like your local America’s Tire, which offers complimentary tread checks in seconds using its mobile tread depth detection system.

Get Pressure Right and Check It Often: Low tire pressure can lead to poor handling, gas mileage, excessive wear, and overloading. To stay safe on the road, check your tires’ air pressure at least once a month, especially before any long-distance trips, as the impacts and strains of bumps and turns can lead to average air loss. Temperature changes also affect air pressure - for every 10 degrees in ambient temperature change, the tire air pressure changes 1 pound per square inch (PSI). For the most accurate reading, check your tires when they’re cool. You can find the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure on a sticker in your car’s door jamb or your owner’s manual.

Rotate Often: Tires wear differently depending on their location on the vehicle and should be rotated every 6,000 miles to spread wear as evenly as possible and maximize handling, traction, and stopping power. If you notice uneven wear, tires may need to be rotated more often. If you utilize seasonal tires, America’s Tire offers an all-season tire changeover, ensuring your vehicle has the best possible traction each season.

Inspect Your Trunk: Many new vehicles have replaced spare tires with tire inflation kits, including puncture-coating