If you're like most people, you probably don't inspect your tires on a monthly basis. Under normal conditions, your tires can lose one pound per square inch (psi) per month. Keeping your tires properly inflated evaluated and rotated will improve fuel economy, increase the life of your tires, and most importantly protect you and your family from avoidable breakdowns and accidents.
Don't just check your tire pressure with your eyes. Use a tire pressure gauge to get an accurate tire pressure reading when the tires are cold. (A cold tire is one that has not been driven on for at least three hours.) You'll find the recommended tire pressure on the vehicle's tire information placard or in your owner's manual.
Evaluate the tire for wear when measuring the tire pressure too. If the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, the tire is unsafe and should be replaced. Place a penny in tire's tread with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your tires are worn and need to be replaced.
To curb irregular wear, rotate your tires from front to back and side to side every 5,000 miles. This practice will extend the life of your tires.
