National Tire Safety Week ~ Tips From Michelin

Summer driving season has officially arrived and while we are all concerned with safety on the road, we often forget one of the most important components: our tires. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 660 highway fatalities are caused by underinflated tires annually.

This National Tire Safety Week (June 5-11, 2011) tire expert and Michelin subjective test driver, Sarah K. Robinson shares her tips for tire safety. She explains some of the simplest steps you can take to ensure you have a smooth, and most importantly safe, ride this summer travel season including:

Check you tire pressure – Check your tire pressure at least once a month and before and after a long trip. Tires can lose 1-2 psi per month.

Examine your treads – Always make sure your tires have at least 2/32” of tread depth (the penny trick).

Examine the wear patterns; the wear patterns can tell you whether your tires are over or under inflated and if your alignment is off.

Avoid hydroplaning – Simple adjustments to driving including reducing your speed and avoiding wet spots, especially standing water can reduce your risk of hydroplaning.

Rotate – Tires should be rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles.

Keep deepest treads in the rear – Make sure when replacing just two tires that you put the two tires with the deepest treads on the rear axle regardless, whether you have front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive.

Have A Safe Summer!

Shared By: The Plus Size Mommy