You can feel the excitement in the air, can’t you?  It’s National Tire Safety Week, people!  Grab some balloons, pop some popcorn!!

No?  Okay, so maybe tires don’t make you quite as giddy as us, BUT we have some things going on this month that might make you do a little happy dance!  Try this on for size: You can stop by any RNR location and get a FREE full-range tire inspection, AND for the full month of June, $5 will get you started on a complete set of new tires.  Are you ready for the party now?

But let’s look beyond some great deals and talk a bit about what this month is really all about: It’s about your tires and how safe they may or may not be.  Whether you realize it or not, tires are the most important safety feature on your car.  Literally, everything is riding on your tires, so if they’re worn out, under-inflated, over-inflated or otherwise impaired in some way, you’re not safe (and neither are the other drivers on the road with you).  So, what’s the best way to find out if your tires are all they should be or if it’s time to roll onto something new?  Here’s a checklist:

1.  Check the pressure.  Under and over-inflated tires wear your tires out faster, make your tires wear unevenly, and can cause reduced traction and stopping distances.  None of these are good things, and in the end, they can all get very expensive.  You should check your tire pressure about once a month and/or before leaving on a long trip (and don’t forget to check the spare!).

2. Take a peek at your tires regularly for signs of uneven tread wear, cracking, any injury to the sidewall, or to see if anything has gotten lodged into your tire.  If you see things wedged into your tread–like glass, rocks, etc.–remove them.

3.  Make sure that your tire valves have valve caps on them.  Simple but important.

4.  We know that there’s a tendency to pack your vehicle to the gills when you’re leaving on a trip (which lots of you will be doing this summer), but have a care for the maximum load your car, truck, etc. should be carrying.  If you don’t know, check your owner’s manual or the tire information placard.  There are a few places where this informational card may be hiding, so get to looking: the inside edge of the driver’s door, doorpost, the door of the glove box, or the inside of the trunk.  When you have the information, check your tire pressure and make sure your tires and your recommendations jive. (Also, remember this: If you’re towing a trailer, some of that weight is transferred to the vehicle that’s towing it)

5.  Mind the curbs.  Try your hardest not to run over them or hit them when parking.  Not only could they damage your tires, but they can also throw your alignment off which will adversely affect your tires in the future.

6.  If you HAVE to go over a pothole or some object lying in the road, for the love of your tires, slow down!  Bowling right over whatever’s in your way won’t help your tires, and it surely won’t help your control over your vehicle.

7.  Keep an eye on your tread.  Tires these days have tread-wear bars built right in; they are raised sections in the tread groove.  When your tires wear down to the point that the tread is even with the tread wear bars, it’s time for new tires.

Take this week to learn about tire safety and do a check on your own car or truck.

If, while going through your checklist, you find you have a problem you’re not sure about or you think you need new tires, come see us.  We can easily set you up on a payment plan to fit your budget (and get you started in June for just $5!).   There’s nothing more important on the road than being safe, so take a minute and find out what you’re riding on.

Bree