Tires, where the machine meets the road. There are a few tips and important features to know and understand about tires. Proper tire inflation pressure and routine rotation of your tires are 2 of the most important features. You should inspect your tires regularly for signs of wear, damage or incorrect pressure, including your spare tire. Your Original Equipment Manufacturer, OEM, owner’s manual have suggested tire rotation schedules and instructions listed.
Performing routine inspections of your tires are important for several reasons. To help prevent or lower the risk of a tire failure and to help prolong the life of your tires. Various factors dictate life of a tire such as maintenance, temperatures, driving speeds, vehicle loading and road conditions. Here in Pennsylvania our vehicles are required to have annual inspections. One of the requirements are your tires have a minimum of 1/16 inch of tread on at least two adjacent treads. Things to look for during a tire inspection.
- Treadwear depth indicators showing at three or more places around the tire. Some tires may not have treadwear indicators, for such tires we recommend a minimum of 1/16” tread depth on at least two adjacent treads.
- Cord or fabric showing through the tire’s rubber.
- Tread or sidewall cracked, cut or snagged deep enough revealing a cord or fabric.
- Bump, bulge or split on the tire.
- A puncture, cut or other damage that cannot be repaired safely because of it’s size or location on the tire. The Tire and Rim Manufacturer’s Association have certain standards for the tire designated as either a “Repairable” or “Non-repairable” area as well as tire patch and or plug criteria. Any tire facility should have and know these standards. Typically anything outside the tread area of the tire is considered as a Non-repairable area and your tire should be replaced.
If any of the above statements are true then you need to replace the tire or tires in question. If you are not sure of any of the above statements then notify your local tire expert for their opinion. Also during your inspection always check your tire pressure, incorrect pressure may cause premature failure or wear in tires. Tire pressure is proportional to weight of your loaded vehicle. Therefore it is recommended that you check your tire pressure, as you increase your vehicle’s weight. Your vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the front and rear Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) are listed on your vehicle’s certification labels located in the driver’s side door jam. This label also gives you your maximum required inflation pressures for the front and rear tires. All tires have their maximum tire inflation pressures listed on the sidewall, do not inflate past this limit.
Rubber degrades over time, even when not being used. Therefore it is imperative that you perform all of the previous inspections, including tire pressure check, on your spare tire. After all what good is a spare tire if it doesn't hold air? Multiple conditions affect how fast a tire’s rubber degrades including temperature, loading conditions and inflation pressure maintenance. With the proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear out before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure about the condition of your spare then consult your local tire expert.