Tires are easy to overlook but they are critical to your safety behind the wheel. After all, your tires are making contact with the ground the entire time you are driving and their condition can make all the difference between getting somewhere safely and being involved in a dangerous accident.

With wintery weather just around the corner, now is a great time to take a look at your tires and make sure they are ready for the icy roads ahead. In fact, regularly having your tires checked is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself, your passengers and other motorists.

Things to Look For

“Gee, it looks like a tire.”

Yes, even a damaged tire will still look like a tire. When checking your tires, specifically look for the following:

·         Cuts, bulges and exposed cord: These are signs that a blowout is not only possible, but may be imminent if you continue driving on these damaged tires.

·         Tire pressure:
Keeping your tire pressure within the recommended range is one of the simplest things you can do to keep your tires in good shape. Having properly inflated tires can also save you some money at the pump due to an increase in gas mileage.

·         Tread depth: Even the highest rated all-season or winter tire is useless if it lacks enough tread to grip the road. If your tread depth is 1/16th
of an inch or less, the time to replace your tires has already come and gone. A good rule of thumb is to stick a penny “head first” into the tread grooves on your tire. If you can see the top of Honest Abe’s head, it’s time to get new tires.

Despite your best efforts at maintaining the safety of your own vehicle, someone else’s negligence can still result in an accident. If an accident happens, contact us and we’ll take care of the rest.