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STEPS FOR MAINTAINING PROPER
TIRE PRESSURE
1.
Locate the recommended tire pressure on the
vehicle’s tire information placard, certification label,
or in the owner’s manual.
2. Record the tire pressure of all tires.
3. If the tire pressure is too high in any of the tires,
slowly release air by gently pressing on the tire valve
stem with the edge of your tire gauge until you get to
the correct pressure.
4. If the tire pressure is too low, note the difference
between the measured tire pressure and the correct
tire pressure. These “missing” pounds of pressure
are what you will need to add.
5. At a service station, add the missing pounds of air
pressure to each tire that is underinflated.
6. Check all the tires to make sure they have the same
air pressure (except in cases in which the front and
rear tires are supposed to have different amounts of
pressure).
If you have been driving your vehicle and think that a tire
is under-inflated, fill it to the recommended cold inflation
pressure indicated on your vehicle’s tire information
placard or certification label. While your tire may still be
slightly under-inflated due to the extra pounds of pressure
in the warm tire, it is safer to drive with air pressure
that is slightly lower than the vehicle manufacturer’s
recommended cold inflation pressure than to drive with a
significantly under-inflated tire. Since this is a temporary
fix, don’t forget to recheck and adjust the tire’s pressure
when you can obtain a cold reading.
TIRE SIZE
To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the
same size as the vehicle’s original tires or another size
recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the tire
information placard, the owner’s manual, or the sidewall
of the tire you are replacing to find this information. If you
have any doubt about the correct size to choose, consult
with the tire dealer.
TIRE TREAD
The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction
that prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding,
especially when the road is wet or icy. In general, tires are
not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn
down to 1/16 of an inch. Tires have built-in treadwear
indicators that let you know when it is time to replace
your tires. These indicators are raised sections spaced
intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When
they appear “even” with the outside of the tread, it is time
to replace your tires. Another method for checking tread
depth is to place a penny in the tread with Lincoln’s head
upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of
Lincoln’s head, you are ready for new tires.
TIRE BALANCE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT
To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when a
tire rotates, the tire must be properly balanced. This
balance is achieved by positioning weights on the wheel
to counterbalance heavy spots on the wheel-and-tire
assembly. A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the
wheels so that they are positioned correctly relative to the
vehicle’s frame. This adjustment maximizes the life of your
tires and prevents your car from veering to the right or left
when driving on a straight, level road. These adjustments
require special equipment and should be performed by a
qualified technician.
