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Six Tire Safety Tips

Staying safe on the road is a lot easier if you properly maintain your tires. Last week, I was driving through a parking lot, and turning a corner at 2 mph, my tires squealed. They were only a few PSI short of recommended pressure, but it makes a big difference.

Your safety is important and it doesn't take a lot to stay safe.

Here are a six tire maintenance tips to set you on the road to safer driving:

1. Check Tire Pressure. Keeping tires properly inflated can boost fuel efficiency by one mile per gallon. Before any long trip and once a month, check the pressure of each tire with a tire gauge. The carmaker's recommended tire pressure is on the tire placard and can be found near the driver's doorjamb, on the glove compartment door or in the owner's manual.
   
2. Rotate Tires Regularly. Regular rotation helps extend the life of your tires, saving time and money in the long run. Rotation ensures that all the tires wear evenly and last longer. If no period is specified in your vehicle's owner's manual, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
   
3. Keep Proper Vehicle Alignment. Alignment generally refers to the adjustment of a vehicle's front and rear suspension parts. Proper alignment helps ensure that your vehicle handles correctly and will help increase the life and performance of your tires.
   
4. Keep Tires Balanced. Proper balancing is critical for optimal vehicle performance. When tire and wheel assemblies are unbalanced, vibration from the wheel assembly shakes from side to side or the tire and wheel assemblies hop up and down. It is important that these assemblies are in both static and dynamic balance.
   
5. Check Tire Tread Depth and Replace Worn Tires. In most states, the minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 of an inch. If you place a penny with the top of the head facing down into your tires' shallowest groove and you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, it's time to replace your tires.

When you are ready to replace them, look for tires with g-Grip interlocking sipe design, such as the BFGoodrich Advantage T/A. Encompassing attributes from its racing counterparts, the tire is designed with extended tread life and greater control in mind. Backed by a 60,000-mile tread life warranty, the tires provide real driving excitement and better handling, whether drivers need traction in the rain, snow or on curves.

You may also want to look at the BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S, a high-performance tire, which features a tenacious grip for wet conditions and tread blocks designed to grip snow. All-season rubber compound and ETEC System construction offer maximized control in any weather, while cutting-edge aesthetics deliver the modern look of the g-Force family of tires.

You can learn more online at www.bfgoodrichtires.com or (877) 788-8899.

Source: North American Precis Syndicate. Send feedback to NewsBlaze.