The Tire Checking Check List

Want to check your tires in order to ensure that they are sufficiently filled with air, but not sure exactly how you can do this? Your tires are a very important part of your vehicle; they are its conduct to the ground. With out tires, your car can not drive the way it was intended to. Many over look their tires, as they are such a common part of a car. However this is a huge mistake. With this check list, we will give you  all of the information you need to check your tires yourself, and do it will. 

Check the Tread. The tread of your tire is what gives it its grip. 

Treads come in many different designs, however there are no “better” or “best” treads recognized. Thus, you are not checking for a specific look; you are checking for how well the tread has been retained. Usually, the tread of your tire can be checked with a penny. Place it head down so that the top of Abe Lincoln’s head is in the groove. The tread of your tire, if sufficient, should reach to at least his eyes. The balder your tire is, the less it will be able to help you control your vehicle on the read. If your tires are too bald, forego the rest of the list and get them replaced before continuing. 

Check the Tire Pressure. 

The tire pressure is the air reading, known as psi, if your tire. All cars will differ, but most psi readings for car tires should be between 32 and 35. To check the proper reading for your car, look in your vehicle owner’s manual. In it you will find the proper tire pressure for your specific make and model. Do not use the pressure reading on the tire itself; it is the maximum psi that the tire will hold, not how much it should! Once you find the proper psi for your vehicle, either use a pressurized motor pump or go to a gas station to fill up your tires accordingly. Once finished, be sure to remember to replace the air caps on the tires!

Check for Tire Damage.

This is yet another often overlooked thing. People take for granted that a car weighs upwards of over a ton and can drive over most surfaces. They do not tend to remember that its tires are made from rubber. Rubber can and will gouge and crack over time from rough usage or sharp objects. Check for cracks on your tires by (1) looking at the tires and (2) running your hands over the tires. Be sure to do this when the tires are cool, not after a long drive! Next, check for gouges in the rubber. These can be caused by glass, nails, bits of concrete—many things. The problem with gouges is that some may breach the tire and be letting out air very slowly, which can over time cause problems with your vehicle’s alignment by unbalancing the pressure of all four wheels and causing the vehicle to lean imperceptibly to one specific corner.