Tire Inspection 101: All You Need To Know

Tire Inspection 101: All You Need To Know

Whether you’re on a road trip or dashing off to work, a flat tire breakdown would be the last thing you’d want! However, this can be easily prevented if you conduct regular tire inspections to check for wear and tear.

If you are wondering about how to go on about it, then we have some recommendations for you. Following this tire inspection guide will help you to be safe and sound while you are on the road, as well as ensure that you do not face any hiccups on the way!

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Inspect tread depth

With use, the tread on the tires might become shallow and wear out, thus affecting tire performance as well as your driving. Because of this, you might not be able to apply brakes on time and your tires might not be able to gain adequate traction on the road, leading to accidents or vehicle problems.

To avoid this from happening and to know when you need a replacement, conduct the penny test on each of your tires. Place a penny between the tread grooves with Lincoln’s head be upside down. If you do see his head, this means that you need a tire replacement.

Check thoroughly for cracks

To avoid a flat tire breakdown, it is important that you inspect your tire for cracks every two months. Let’s face it; your tires have a difficult job cut out for them. Apart from bearing your vehicle’s weight, it also has to take you places in the harshest weather and road conditions! Sun, heat, cold, acids, sudden brakes, and snow — these are just some of the elements that your tires have to brave day in and day out.

That is why the rubber’s elastic strength decreases with time, leading to hairline cracks near the sidewalls and on the surface. While this is pretty normal, your car will need an immediate change of tires if you hear air coming out of a tire. At the same time, if the tread is giving away from the rubber or there are bulges, you need to get the tires checked by a professional.

Check tire pressure

If you check the air pressure levels of your tires every month and get them attended to whenever the pressure slips, you will be able to avoid flat tire breakdowns in the middle of nowhere. The ideal tire pressure should be noted on the vehicle’s side door. Ensure that the wheels are inflated according to the normal tire pressure range as listed by the manufacturer.

Keep tire age in mind

Even if you don’t drive your car around, the NHTSA advises that tires must be changed every 6 years no matter how much distance the vehicle has covered during the time frame.
To know the age of your tires, look for the DOT stamp on the tire’s sidewall. It will have a four-digit number. The first two digits indicate the week in which it was manufactured while the last two denote the year. So, for example, if the DOT stamping says 2616, then it would mean that the tire was made on the 26th week of 2016.

Conclusion

Tires form the most integral parts of your vehicles. If they are not maintained and serviced regularly, these can lead to dangerous accidents or frustrating situations. So, don’t forget to give them a look every now and then using this guide!

While you might be effectively doing your bit to prevent tire issues on the road, there might be times when bad road conditions lead to flat tires. In such a scenario, having a multi-fit universal spare wheel will help you to get back on the road in no time at all! Get in touch with experts at EZ Spare Wheel for more information.