If you were to be asked what part of your car keeps you the most safe, you might say the brakes. There really isn’t just one part as a lot of things have to work well together to keep your safety intact. But your Philadelphia auto repair shop would like for you to put your tires on your to-do list when you are running safety checks on your vehicle. Of course, any time you bring the vehicle in, the professionals can check things out for you. But between those maintenance checkups, it’s a good idea for you to keep an eye on several things yourself. Here are a few things to put into a tire safety checklist:
- Check The Tread Depth
This is something you probably already know how to do. Worn out tire treads can prevent you from maintaining traction on the road, which is especially bad in snowy, wet, or rainy conditions. You might not be able to brake fast enough if you need to, either. To check your tread’s depth yourself, get a penny and put it between the treads with Lincoln’s head down. You won’t want to be able to see the top of his head. If you can, your tread is too worn and you need new tires. If you’re getting close, you can plan ahead for the expense.
- Check For Cracks
Cracks happen in tires when the rubber starts to break down from wear and tear and exposure. You might see cracks on the tread blocks or sidewalls and that’s normal. But you should never see cords and you shouldn’t see tread separating from the rubber. Those signs will tell you that you are in need of new tires.
- Check Tire Pressure
You should keep a handheld tire pressure gauge in your vehicle so you can check it when you get gas. Your ideal tire pressure can be found in your owner’s manual. Some newer vehicles will even warn you when the tire pressure gets too low, which can often happen when the temperatures drop in Philadelphia. Instead of driving on underinflated tires, throwing off your gas mileage and causing uneven wear, check them out and add air as necessary.
If you are in need of new tires, or you want to have yours checked over for safety reasons, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at (215) 755-1270. Our Philadelphia auto repair shop can help you with anything vehicle-related. We can do oil changes and maintenance checkups, get you new tires, service older tires, and check the vehicle from front to back for any issues. We want you to maintain your safety on the road at all times and regular vehicle maintenance is a big part of that. Whether you’re in the market for new tires or just need an oil change, stop by SAR at 1924 S Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA 19148 for help. Our friendly professionals will get you taken care of and back on the road as quickly as possible.
