Tire Care

As simple as it is, caring for your car’s tires can be time-consuming and, frankly, annoying. It’s an easily forgettable part of your routine vehicle check, making it all the more important as they are the only part of your vehicle that makes contact with the ground, or at least the only part that should. Ensuring your tires are in their best shape provides a smooth, dependable, and peaceful drive and helps your car’s fuel economy and performance. Not sure how to check your tires? Luckily, we at Crain Kia of Sherwood are here to help you get started! 

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Tire Pressure

A simple but essential factor in maintaining your tires is ensuring they have the proper amount of air. Keeping your tires aired properly helps keep you, your passengers, and others on the road safe by improving handling, braking, and fuel economy. AAA, on their blog, recommends checking your vehicle’s tire pressure once a month. You can check your tire’s air pressure with a digital or analog gauge. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need to do. 

Checking Your Car’s Tire Pressure

1. Twist off the cap of the tire’s valve stem.
2. Place the gauge reader on the end of the open stem.
   1. Apply force for a tight seal for a proper reading. 
3. Add or remove air as needed.
   • Use a compressor to add air. You can visit your local gas station if you do not own one. 
   • If your tires are overinflated, place the non-rounded end of your gauge on the valve stem to release pressure. 

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Checking Your Tire’s Tread

Another critical component of maintaining your vehicle’s health and your safety is keeping track of your tire tread. Professionals recommend inspecting your tread using the “penny test.” This lets you know if it’s time to replace your tires when they become too worn down. On their blog, Bridgestone states that most automotive tires come with 10/32-inch or 11/32-inch tread depths and need replacement when they hit the 2/32-inch threshold. The “penny test” lets you know if you’re tires have reached this point in a simple yet effective way. 

The Penny Test

1. Take the penny and put it in between the raises on the tire tread, or “rib.”
2. When placing the penny, make sure Lincoln’s head points down.
3. Check to see if Lincoln’s head is visible.
   1. If Lincoln’s head hides behind the tread, your tires are above the 2/32 threshold.
   2. If Lincoln’s entire head is visible, it’s probably time to replace the tire. 

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Taking care of your car’s tires is a chore, but it can significantly impact how well your car drives by affecting braking and handling. Inspecting your tire tread with the penny test and checking tire pressure are simple tasks that can drastically impact your car’s performance. Stop by Crain Kia of Sherwood in Sherwood, AR, today!

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