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Proper tire care and safety is simple and easy. The Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends getting in the habit of taking five minutes
every month to check your tires, including the spare.
P
Pressure
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Underinflation is a tire's #1 Enemy.
It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A
tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!
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A
Alignment
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Is your vehicle pulling to one side, or shaking?
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and
damage your tires. Have a tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure that
your car is properly aligned.
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R
Rotation
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Promotes uniform tire wear.
Regularly rotating your vehicle's tires will help you achieve more uniform wear. Unless
your vehicle owner's manual has a specific recommendation, the guideline for tire
rotation is approximately every 6,000 miles.
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T
Tread
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Measure it -- and inspect it.
Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse
conditions. Visually check your tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or
unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.
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If you think you may have a tire
problem or are unsure of the condition of your tires, consult a tire dealer as soon as
possible.
Also, check your car's battery for signs of corrosion or cracks. If
the battery is the "self-diagnosing" type with an indicator, make sure it is fully
charged. An older, weak battery may fail without much warning. If your battery has
cracks, the fluid could leak from one or more cells, rendering it too weak to start your
car. If you are taking an extended trip, or if your car has not been serviced recently,
you should have it checked by a reputable mechanic before leaving. A good mechanic can
usually spot the problems in advance, and advise you on how long you can delay a repair
and what the consequences of not immediately repairing your car may be.
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