Where the rubber meets the road

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Where the rubber meets the road
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Your cars tires

• The tires on your vehicle directly affect the way
  it turns, stops and grips.
• Tires are one of the most important safety
  components of your car. Check them frequently for
  proper inflation and wear.

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Tire Pressure

• Proper tire inflation is essential to keeping you
  safe and preventing excessive wear.
• On newer vehicles, the recommended pressure is
  written on a placard on the door jamb of your
  vehicle, drivers door or glove box. DO NOT USE
  THE MAXIMUM INFLATION PRESSURE FROM THE SIDES OF
  YOUR TIRES!

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• Under-inflation degrades your cars response,
  increases tread wear, lowers fuel economy and
  reduces wet traction.
• Don't eyeball your tires -- use a pressure gauge.
  
• Can you tell which tire is under-inflated?

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• Over-inflated tires can be damaged more easily on
  potholes and lead to irregular wear.
• Check every week, and before trips.
• Check the air pressure when the tires are cold
  (in the morning before the vehicle is driven).

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Tire Wear

• Inspect your tires periodically and measure the
  amount of tread. Too little tread means less
  traction, especially when roads are slippery.
• A good rule of thumb is to insert a penny into
  the tread, with Lincoln's image head-first. If
  the top of Lincoln's head is in the groove, you
  still have enough (2/32 which is the minimum
  allowed in most states).

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Tire Wear

• Modern tires have "warning bars" that appear
  across the tire tread when it is time for
  replacement.
• Always bear in mind, that when tires are down to
  2/32 of tread depth, stopping distances can
  increase dramatically. It can take worn tires up
  to twice the distance to stop in the rain as
  compared to new tires.

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Tire Rotation

• Rotate your tires every 3,000 to 5,000 miles,
  unless the owner's manual recommends a different
  interval.
• A good rule of thumb is to rotate whenever you
  have your oil changed.

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Tire Rotation

• A D
• B E
• C

• On front-wheel drive cars, rotate the tires as in
  figure A or the alternate pattern B.
• On rear-wheel or four-wheel drive cars, rotate as
  in figure C or the alternate pattern B.
• If your car has directional wheels or tires,
  rotate as shown in D.
• If your car has non-directional tires that are a
  different size from front to rear, rotate as in E.

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Replacing Tires

• If your tires have a lot of remaining tread
  depth, but you need to replace one flat tire, you
  should replace it with a tire that exactly
  matches the others. Select a replacement tire of
  the same brand, size, load index and speed
  rating. While there may be a less expensive tire
  available, its tread design and specifications
  may be different.
• If two of your tires have a lot of remaining
  tread depth, but you need to replace the other
  two because they were damaged or have worn out,
  you should replace them with a pair of tires that
  come as close as possible to matching your
  existing tires. While identical new tires are
  desirable, others of the same size and type can
  also provide good results. New tires should be
  installed on the rear axle.

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Other Tips

• Have your vehicles alignment checked, especially
  if your car is pulling or your tires are showing
  uneven wear. Note that a shudder or vibration in
  the steering wheel may be a tire out of balance
  anD not necessarily an alignment problem.
• If you are towing a trailer, remember that some
  of the weight of the trailer IS transferred to
  your vehicle and can make stopping distances
  longer.