Tire Safety for Summer

Summer here…the season for family trips and all sorts of travel ideas.  Don’t forget how important your tires are for getting you there!  Here a few simple tire-maintenance tips to keep your travel plans from going off course.

Heat Factor – Proper tire inflation is your #1 concern to keep you rolling…and Heat is the primary enemy. Tires can overheat from being underinflated, overloaded, or pushed at higher speeds. Sizzling hot summer road temperatures can actually cause tire blow outs.  Only about 19 percent of consumers properly inflate their tires, according to government estimates. A simple inspection can improve your safety:

1. Check pressure when the tires are at same temperature as their surroundings, typically after they’ve been parked for more than 3 hours.
2. Set the pressure to the prescribed level, which can be found on a placard on the driver’s doorjamb in most cars. Don’t use the pressure that’s noted on the tire’s sidewall; that’s the maximum pressure allowed for the tire.

Don’t Overload – Often miscaculated!  Here, the tire information placard IS your guide. It provides the allowable weight of all occupants and cargo combined.  Beware! Many vehicles hit maximum load capacity with just a few adults…and absolutely nothing in the trunk.

Spare Tire Check Monthly – Repeat…Monthly!  This is so overlooked …it’s not funny.  Check your spare tire every time you do  your regular monthly tire inflation check …AND before long-distance trips.

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Also Read: Changing a Tire in 8 Easy Steps from last month…practice makes perfect!