The most important safety feature your car has is its tires. They are the only pieces of your car that touch the road. With such a small piece of the tire contacting the ground, you would better be sure your tires can maintain traction.

Check to see the depth of the tread left remaining on your tire. You can test the tread on the tires by placing a penny upside down in the tread groove. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, then the tire should be replace.

If you notice that your tires have unusual wear or bald patches, make sure to schedule an appointment. These can be signs of other problems that can make winter driving hazardous as well as wear out your tires prematurely. If the shoulder of the tire is badly worn while the rest of the tire is all right, there’s a good chance you need a suspension or steering repair. You may have a bent or loose part that needs to be replaced, or you may simply need a wheel alignment. If the center of your tread is wearing more than the outer edges, your tires are overinflated. Not only does it shorten the lifespan of your tires, but it makes for worse traction, especially in the rain and snow. If the front and rear tires are wearing at different rates, they need to be rotated. They will last longer and you will get better overall traction.

Proper tire inflation will keep your vehicle’s handling and traction at its best. Check your tire pressure at least monthly and adjust it to the proper pressure for your vehicle. You can find the tire information on the driver’s door jamb when you open the door on most vehicles. On some vehicles, it is in the glove box. If all else fails, your proper tire inflation is listed in your owner’s manual. Also remember to bring your vehicle in regularly, so we can inspect the vehicle and tires for you.