How to Perform a Basic Winter Tire Inspection

Winter is coming, and that does not simply entail the cold. Winter has been getting more extreme with each year, and has been occurring later on in the year, broaching on some of the spring months. Thus, it would benefit you well to learn how to perform a basic tire inspection so that you can ensure you are totally safe during the coming season. Because when it comes to ice and snow, even slush and water, you want to know that your tires are going to be up to the job, and give you the traction that you need to keep you and your family safe while on the road. 

The Tire Inspection Look Test

The first part of a basic tire inspection involves simply looking over your tire. You are looking for a few specific things. First off, you are looking for any cracks in the tire. The rubber that tires are made out of can, and will, crack over time. Cracks are not always a problem, unless they are deep. Other wise, they are simply just an eye sore. But you do not want to take for granted that that’s all they will be. If you find any cracks, test to see if your finger nail can fit in them. Do no push or work at the crack; you are simply checking how wide and how deep it is. Next, look for any gouges. Gouges can occur in your tires for any number of reasons, such as glass on the road that you ran over, or other sharp items. Even clipping curbs while parking can take a hunk of rubber out of your tire. Finally, look for flat spots. Tire pressure is important to maintain through out the winter, and you will want to ensure your tires are not too flat. If you found any worrying cracks or gouges that you are not sure about, you are best off coming to our auto repair shop to have us take a closer look. Do not try and play the professional; winter is dangerous enough as it is.

The Tire Feel Test

The next thing you will want to look at, is the tread on your tires. Bare tires are easy to spot and this is because there is not much room for anything to get stuck on the flat of the tire. This happens after so many miles, and is a common assurance. Feel for ridges on the flats of your tires. If they feel smooth, chances are they are bald, or close to being bald. In this case, you will want to bring your car in and get a new set of tires put on. It is not a good idea just to replace one; you need to have even traction through out your entire vehicle. 

What You Can Do

If your tires look a bit flat in the look test, check the pressure and fill them up until they are at the pressure described in your cars’ owner’s manual. Do not use the tire’s pressure label to go by; it is the maximum pressure the tire can hold.