Healthy Habits: Tire Safety

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Here's another look at summer car safety, this time focusing on tires. Next week is National Tire Safety Week, and Michelin and Sarah K Robinson (Michelin's first female test driver) would like to take the chance to share some summer tire tips.

- Check your tire pressure – Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before and after a long trip. Tires can lose 1-2 psi per month.
- Examine your treads – Always make sure your tires have at least 2/32” of tread depth (the penny trick). Examine the wear patterns; the wear patterns can tell you whether your tires are over or under inflated and if your alignment is off.
- Avoid hydroplaning – Simple adjustments to driving including reducing your speed and avoiding wet spots, especially standing water can reduce your risk of hydroplaning.
- Rotate – Tires should be rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles.
- Keep deepest treads in the rear – Make sure when replacing just two tires that you put the two tires with the deepest treads on the rear axle regardless, whether you have front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.