Jack Williams

RED ALERT: Are Your Tires Failing?

Tire health is a critical standard for overall vehicle safety. It is also one of the easiest for the mechanically-challenged to identify and monitor. Keeping an eye on these critical points, itemized by Consumer Reports, will help assure longer tire life, better gas mileage and an overall safer ride.

When examining your tires, look for:

• Cracking or cuts in the sidewalls.

• Uneven tread wear. This can be caused by improper inflation, misaligned wheels, damaged tires, or by problems with suspension parts.

• Excessively worn tread. Most modern tires have tread-wear indicator bars running across the tread, which signal the minimum allowable tread depth of 1/16-inch. When the tread wears down to these bars, it's time for new tires. Inexpensive tread-wear gauges are available at auto-parts and tire stores.

• Alternatively, you can use a Lincoln-head penny as a tread-wear indicator. Insert the penny into a tire groove with Lincoln's head toward the tire. If you can see the top of Abe's head, the tread is too worn.

• Bulges or blisters. If you see a bulge or blister on the sidewall, replace the tire at once. These signal potential weak spots that could lead to tire failure.

• Excessive vibration. Tire vibration may be a sign a wheel is misaligned, unbalanced, or bent. It could also signify internal tire damage. Don't ignore vibration: Have the vehicle serviced at once.

You should also make sure to keep your tires properly inflated. It is estimated that more than half the cars on American roadways are on underinflated tires. According to CarsDirect.com, to check tire pressure, you should:

1. Find out what your tire pressure SHOULD be by consulting a sticker found in your driver's side door jamb, in the glove box or in the trunk (don't simply go by the information on the sidewall of the tire)

2. Unscrew the plastic cap on the air valve (and don't lose it!)

3. Insert the gauge and hold it firmly against the air valve. If you hear hissing, air is escaping and you should apply more pressure

4. Read the results on your gauge (whether a simple pencil gauge of a digital one, the results should be consistent). If air pressure is correct, reattach the air valve cap and you're good to go. If not, refill air to the desired pressure.

Following these simple rules will extend the life of your tires, and maybe your whole vehicle!