Your tires are the only part of your car touching the road. A few minutes of care each month keeps you safer and saves money.
Check pressure monthly
Use the pressure listed on the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb — not the maximum printed on the tire. Check when the tires are cold. Underinflated tires wear faster, hurt fuel economy and can overheat.
Rotate regularly
Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles (or as your manual says) helps them wear evenly and last longer. Many people do it with every other oil change.
Check your tread with a penny
Put a penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is at or below 2/32 of an inch — the minimum that passes a North Carolina safety inspection — and it is time for new tires. For better grip in rain, many experts suggest replacing tires before they get that low.
Watch for uneven wear
- Wear on both edges: usually underinflation
- Wear in the center: overinflation
- Wear on one edge: alignment problems
- Cupping or scalloping: worn suspension parts
Know your tire’s age
Rubber ages even when tires aren’t used much. The four-digit date code on the sidewall shows the week and year it was made (for example, 2321 means the 23rd week of 2021).
Need tires checked, rotated or aligned? Book service with our Salisbury, NC shop.
