Tire Safety ­ Do your PART!
The Rubber Association of Canada's PART program is an easy way to remember the important elements of tire safety: Pressure, Alignment, Rotation and Tread.

Tire safety leads to road safety. Properly maintained tires also lead to greater fuel efficiency, which is good for your finances, as well as for the environment.

Pressure:
Under-inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!

The "right amount" of air for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and is shown on the vehicle door edge, doorpost, glove box door, or fuel door. It is also listed in the owner's manual.

Here's a step-by-step guide to checking your air pressure:

  1. When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are cool ­ meaning they are not hot from driving even around the block. (Note: If you have to drive a distance to get air, check and record the tire pressure first and add the appropriate air pressure when you get to the pump. It is normal for tires to heat up and the air pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never "bleed" or reduce air pressure when tires are hot.)
  2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire.
  3. Firmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.
  4. Add air to achieve recommended air pressure.
  5. If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the centre of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen. Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
  6. Replace the valve cap.
  7. Repeat with each tire, including the spare. (Note: Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure.)
  8. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air leak.
  9. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gauges, cuts, bulges, or other irregularities.

Note: Air pressure in a tire goes up (in warm weather) or down (in cold weather) 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change.

Alignment:
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tires.

Front-wheel drive vehicles, and those with independent rear suspension, require alignment of all four wheels. Have your alignment checked periodically as specified by the vehicles' owners' manual or whenever you have an indication of trouble such as "pulling" or vibration.

Also have your tire balance checked periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular wear.

Rotation:
Regularly rotating your vehicle's tires will help you achieve more uniform wear.

Consult your vehicle's owners manual, the tire manufacturer or your tire dealer for the appropriate rotation pattern for your vehicle. Note: If your tires show uneven wear, ask your tire dealer to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation.

Before rotating your tires, always refer to your vehicle's owners manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated approximately every 10, 000 km, or at least twice a year.

Tread:
Advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. Visually inspect your tires at least once a month for uneven tread wear and cuts or abrasions in both the tread and sidewall area. For an easy way to check the wear on your tires, simply stick a quarter in the tread groove. If the top of the Queen's head disappears, you're driving with the proper amount of tread. But if all of Her Highness is visible, your tire is worn down to a dangerous one-sixteenth of an inch.

Built-in treadwear indicators, or "wear bars", which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to one-sixteenth of an inch. When you see these "wear bars", the tire is worn out and should be replaced.

Other important information:
Practice good driving habits, which will help keep tires in good condition:

  • Obey posted speed limits.
  • Avoid fast starts, stops, and turns.
  • Avoid potholes and other objects on the road.
  • Do not run over curbs or hit your tires against the curb when parking.
  • Do not overload your vehicle. Check your vehicle's tire information or owners manual for the maximum recommended load for your vehicle.

(source: Be Tire Smart: Play Your Part (brochure). Rubber Manufacturers Association. Washington, D.C.: Rubber Manufacturers Association, 2000)

 

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