When it comes to safety, your vehicle’s tires play a huge role. Since the tires are the part of your car that enables you to stay safely in contact with the surface of the road, it’s extremely important to keep them in top shape so you don’t lose control of your vehicle. As you know, losing control can result in a serious accident, causing injury or even death. This is why inspecting car tires regularly and effectively is so important.
So how exactly do you know that those Goodyear tires on your vehicle are performing as well as they should; and how can you tell if it’s time to invest in new tires for your vehicle?
3 Simple Things to Check When Inspecting Car Tires
Luckily there are a few simple things you can look for when inspecting car tires to make sure you stay safe and that you’re not breaking any laws when you drive. These inspections should be carried out at least once a month; although more frequent checks are ideal.
1. Check the Tire Pressure
When you are inspecting the tires on your car, one of the most important things to check is the pressure. You can find out the correct tire pressure for your vehicle’s tires by reading the owner’s manual. Then you simply need to use a pressure gauge, to see whether or not you need to pump air into the tires.
2. Making Sure There Is Enough Tread on Your Tires
You also need to check that there is sufficient tread on the tires of your vehicle. If you find that the depth is 1.6mm or less, you should have the tires replaced straight away. Remember that if the tread is less than 1.5mm in depth you cannot legally drive the car. If you notice that the tread is unevenly worn this could be a sign that the wheels of the car are out of alignment or not balanced as they should be. You should seek help with this as soon as possible in order to prevent any further damage to the tires.
3. Checking for Damage to Sidewalls
The sidewalls of a tire can be damaged by something as simple as hitting a kerb with some force. You may not even be aware that damage has occurred. Any damage to a tire sidewall should be considered serious as it can lead to incidents such as blowouts. If there are any cuts, tears or bulges in the sidewall, the tire should be replaced straight away. If any of the tires on your car have experienced a significant impact, it’s worth having them checked by a professional even if there is no obvious sign of damage; the tire could be damaged internally.
Inspecting car tires only takes a few minutes of your time, and it ensures that your tires are in good enough condition for you to drive on them legally, and more importantly, it could make all the difference between life and death.