Do Your P.A.R.T. During National Tire Safety Week
Frédéric Baroin
Global Head of Automotive Business at Anyline
What can you do as a driver to ensure the safety of you and your passengers? We will share some simple preventative maintenance steps for proper tire care that are essential to road safety.
Be Proactive with P.A.R.T.
Education and awareness are every motorist’s first line of defense. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and its partners will be promoting a very important acronym during the National Tire Safety Week, but it’s something you should remember all year long. The easy to remember acronym P.A.R.T. stands for Pressure, Alignment, Rotate and Tread
Pressure
Check your tire pressure monthly, especially before long road trips or if you’re carrying extra weight in the car. Underinflated tires generate excessive heat build-up and stress, causing irregular wear and internal damage. Overinflated tires are more likely to be punctured or damaged when hitting an obstacle.
Alignment
How do you know when it’s time to get an alignment? As a routine part of maintaining your tires, you should check the alignment every other oil change or as specified by your owner’s manual. Some clear signs that you need an immediate alignment are:
- Sharp or slight pulling in one direction
- Steering wheel vibration
- Crooked steering wheel
- Uneven tire tread wear
Rotate
Rotate your tires based on the recommendations in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, or if not specified, every 5,000 to 8,000 miles or when you change your oil. Changing the position of the tires on your vehicle helps spread the wear evenly to maximize tread life.
Tread
Look for signs of tread wear or damage regularly. According to NHTSA, worn-out tires are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than tires with sufficient tread depth. You can use the penny test – turn a penny upside down and place it in one of your tire’s major grooves. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, you are good to go. If you can see all of his head, it’s time to replace your tires.
Every tire also has tread wear indicators or ‘wear bars’ in major grooves of the tires. There will be a triangle or a symbol on the tire shoulder that directs you to where those wear bars are located. The wear bars indicate 2/32” depth. When your overall tread wears down to this depth, the U.S Department of Transportation recommends replacing, and many states legally require replacing tires at this point.
Know Before You Go
Preparation is the key to success, and it’s no different in driving. Familiarize yourself with your vehicle’s owner’s manual and driver’s information in the driver’s side door frame. Also know where your preferred mechanic and tire professionals are located and store their contact information in your cell phone. Do you know how to put a spare tire on your car or other basic repairs? Roadside assistance services like AAA are reasonably priced and can help you when things go wrong.
Lastly, always contact a tire professional when in doubt.
