Preventing tire blowouts

• Check your tire pressure with a gauge monthly and make certain that your tires are properly inflated. Do not rely on sight as this is usually inaccurate. Tires may be as low as 50-70% under recommended pressure before the eye can notice it.
• Check the tread on your tires. Tread separation is dangerous and causes accidents. Tires that have less than 1/16 of an inch of tread depth are considered bald and should be replaced. You can also tell if your tire is worn out when you see that the wear bars (narrow strips of smooth rubber across the treat) are beginning to show.
• Rotate your tires every six months or every 5,000 miles. Check you owner's manual or call the tire manufacturer for the proper rotation pattern. After rotating your tires, you should adjust the air pressure to the correct level as recommended by the manufacturer for its new location. Tire rotation allows for maximum wear and tear.
• If you see that your tires are wearing in an uneven or irregular pattern, you may have a significant alignment problem. You should have a qualified technician look at your vehicle.
• When you replace your tires, try to use the same type of tires that were installed in the factory.
• All-season tires are best for most passenger cars because they provide a good combination of grip on dry and wet roads, as well as in light snow.
• In the northern United States in states like Pennsylvania where there is heavy snowfall, you should use winter tires.
• When driving, always use your safety belt.
• Never drive at a high rate of speed, especially during hot weather.
• Never overload your vehicle.
• Avoid road hazards. Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or object in the road.
• If you have hit a curb or other road hazard, have your tires professionally checked.
• Inspect your tires for cuts, slashes, embedded objects, or other irregularities.

Tips for checking tire pressure

Check your tire pressure monthly and make certain that your tires are properly inflated. Properly inflated tires not only offer the greatest safety, but also can improve on fuel economy and extend tread wear.

• When you check your pressure, use your own gauge. Gauges at service stations are often inaccurate due to wear and tear and abuse.
• Check the tires after the car has not been driven for several hours.
• Know the proper tire pressure for your vehicle. Check your owner's manual for this information.
• When inflating your tires at a service station, use the low-pressure numbers your recorded from your gauge before you went to the station. Your tires may have heated up during the ride to the station.
• Double check your tire pressure with your gauge to make sure your tire pressure is correct.

Tips for buying Tires

• Buy the freshest tires you can find because tires can harden and crack with age. Check the DOT code on any tire you are considering to buy. The DOT code can be found on the black-wall side of the tire. The DOT code is a 10-character code. It begins with "DOT." The last three digits are a date code that indicate the week and the year the tire was made. For example, 369 would indicate the 36th week of 1999.
• When buying tires, check the Uniform Tire Quality Grading System issued by the federal government. You can find the ratings molded into the tire sidewalls. Tread-wear ratings indicate how long the tires will last.
• A tread-wear rating of 300 to 400 is considered good and 500 to 700 is considered very good.
• The traction rating indicates how well the tire will stop on a wet surface. Grades of AA, A, B, and C are used. Buy tires with a traction rating of AA or A.
• Temperature ratings indicate the tire's ability to dissipate heat. Grades of A, B, and C are used. Look for either an A or B rating.

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