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News Travel Tips Are Your Car's Tires Ready For A Long Drive?
News Travel Tips Are Your Car's Tires Ready For A Long Drive?
| Are Your Car's Tires Ready For A Long Drive? |
| Wednesday, 09 June 2010 | |
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In coordination with National Tire Safety Week, Hankook Tire America Corp. is offering tips and advice to arm consumers with the tire safety knowledge necessary to ensure that their tires are in good working condition for summer travel. Tires are the only part of the vehicle that makes contact with the road. Therefore, it's important to follow these simple guidelines to ensure safe driving and save money no matter what your destination may be this summer. "Not maintaining proper tire inflation pressure costs consumers hundreds of dollars during their driving lifetime," said Bill Bainbridge, director of brand communications for Hankook Tire America Corp. "Even slightly under inflated tires require more energy and build up damaging heat more quickly. This leads to reduced fuel economy and paying more for gas than you need." - Check tire air pressure monthly and always before a long distance trip. Maintaining proper inflation pressure is essential for driving safety, handling, ride comfort and maximizing fuel economy. - Inspect tires for uneven treadwear that may indicate signs of mechanical problems, and/or cracks, bulges or any sign of foreign material or trauma that can lead to tire failure. If you think your tire may have been damaged from hitting a pothole, curb or debris on the road, it should be inspected for damage by a qualified person, such as a Hankook authorized tire dealer. - Check your tire tread depth. As tires wear down and the grooves become shallower, they are more prone to hydroplaning (losing grip on a wet surface) and susceptible to flats. Tires must be replaced before the tread grooves are worn down below 2/32" of depth. Most tires have between four and six treadwear indicators at that depth. - Never overload your vehicle or exceed the tire's load carrying capacity when it is properly inflated. Refer to your vehicle owner's manual or the placard on the inside driver's door jam for proper recommendations. It's important to remember that when tires are under inflated they are overloaded and can be dangerous. For the best accuracy, check your tires before you do any driving and when they are cold. An inexpensive tire air pressure gauge is all you need along with the proper inflation pressure recommendation found on the vehicle placard or in the vehicle owner's manual. |
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