TIA rolls out list of tire safety tips for summer driving season

With Memorial Day and the start of the summer driving season fast approaching, tire dealers have an opportunity to make themselves available to local media outlets and offer advice to help ensure safe travels.

Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training at the Tire Industry Association (TIA), points out that “before heading out, it’s important to ensure that the family vehicle’s tires are in optimal working order both before and during the trip.”

The TIA has issued a list of five tips that motorists can follow:

1. Use the “penny test” to check for minimum tread depth. The old technique still works – place a one-cent piece in a major tread groove of a tire with Lincoln’s head facing down. If the top of the president’s head is visible at any point in a major tread groove, it’s a good sign that the tire needs to be replaced, according to Rohlwing.

2. Perform a visual inspection and check tire pressure every month. Look for any cracking and/or irregular wear, and make sure all tires are properly inflated. Drivers should check the owner’s manual or the placard on the inside of the driver-side door to determine the correct inflation, and always check the pressure first thing in the morning, when the tires are “cold.”

3. Inspect your spare tire. “Many people forget to regularly check the condition of their spare tire – including the inflation pressure – until one of their main tires is not working, and then it’s too late,” Rohlwing cautions.

4. Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. “Rotating tires on this regular basis is one of the best ways to get the maximum life out of your tires,” he suggests.

5. If your tire is punctured, make sure the repairer conducts the task off-the-wheel. “The only proper way to repair tire damage is to remove the tire from the wheel,” says Rohlwing. “On-the-wheel repairs are dangerous because there may be more damage to the tire than what is visible when it is on the wheel,” he explains.

“People often forget to check their tires before they head out on that summer road trip, but ensuring that your tires are in proper working order can mean the difference between a happy, memorable holiday and a unpleasant and even tragic one,” Rohlwing says. “That’s why it’s imperative to keep these tips in mind,” he adds. “And, these tips are good throughout the year; not just in the summer months.”

For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org.