Check Your Tires
Tires are one of the most overlooked parts of a car. According the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA), only one out of 10 drivers checks his or her tire
pressure correctly, compared with almost seven out of 10 who wash their cars
regularly [source:
RMA].
But the truth is that an under-inflated, over-inflated, worn down or misaligned
tire can be extremely dangerous, particularly in hot summer weather.
Tire pressure changes with the rising temperatures -- approximately one to
two PSI (pounds per square inch) for every 10-degree increase in outside air
temperature [source:
RMA].
Consult your owner's manual or the sidewall of your tire to see what your tire
pressure should be and check it with a hand pressure gauge or just let the guys
at the service shop do it for you.
An under-inflated tire bulges outward and puts undo pressure on the
sidewalls
of the tire. With enough heat and pressure, that tire eventually will blow. An
over-inflated tire, on the other hand, makes less contact with the road and can
lead to hydroplaning in wet conditions.
Use the penny trick to see if you still have enough tread on your tires.
Stick a penny in the tread, and if Lincoln's head disappears, you're good
[source: CBS News]. Your local service shop or specialty tire store can also
check your tires for proper alignment and balance.
And don't forget about your spare! There's no point in having a spare tire
if your spare is in worse condition than the rest. Make sure the spare is
properly inflated and has ample tread depth.
Courtesy of auto.howstuffworks.com
