5 Tire Safety Tips Before Your Trip

One of the greatest summer traditions is the annual family road trip. Whether you’re planning a visit to one of this year’s top summer destinations or one of our recommendations on our list of 50 lesser-known places to visit on your family vacation, make sure to use these five tire safety tips before you pull out of the driveway and hit the highway this summer:

1. Check Your Tread
When your tire tread’s depth drops to around 3/32 inches deep, it’s time to think about replacing the tires on your vehicle. That’s not the easiest measurement to make, so the easy way to check your tread depth is to insert a penny upside-down in a tread groove. If you can see President Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires.

2. Ensure Proper Tire Pressure
It’s a good habit to check your tire pressure monthly, but it should be a requirement before a long road trip. Quality tire pressure is an easy way to maximize gas mileage and avoid unnecessary wear on your tires.

3. Rotate Your Tires
To avoid uneven wear on your tires, it’s recommended to rotate your tires every 6,000 miles.

4. Inspect Your Trunk
A flat spare doesn’t do much good if you’re in a sticky situation, so don’t forget to check the tire pressure on your spare. Also, be sure to have a roadside assistance plan in place.

5. Don’t Overload
There’s a fine balance between being prepared and stuffing your automobile to maximum capacity with objects you may not ever use. We trust that you can make sensible choices without turning your vehicle into a house on the highway.

Source:
Family Features