Much like most things for our cars, we take our tires for granted until they stop working. There’s nothing worse than enjoying a road trip, only to feel a sick rumble from under your car. Now you’re stranded, and miles away from civilization, and that’s the best case scenario for your tires giving out. The busted tire could lead to an auto accident with another vehicle. What could you have done to prevent this? We’ve put together the top three things to check for in your tires before you hit the road. Whether it’s for a long drive to a vacation spot, or just the every commute to your job.
Measure Your Tread Depth
Tread Depth is what helps stop your car from skidding around the road on wet surfaces – also known as hydroplaning – and gives you better control over more extreme weather conditions like snow, sleet, and rain. For those of you who have a tread depth gauge (it may be lying around your garage somewhere), measuring the depth of your tire treads is simple. Once you have your gauge Zeroed out, position it in the middle of your tire tread, and measure how deep it is. Look into getting your tires changed out if the measurement is lower than 32nds of an inch. For those of us who don’t have a tread depth gauge, George Washington’s head can be a good substitute. That is, his head on your quarter. While this trick won’t be as accurate as a proper gauge, it can do good in a cinch. Simply place the quarter upside down into the tire tread, and if his head is showing all the way, then it’s time to replace that tire.
Tire Rotation is Important
We’re always told to rotate our tires every couple thousand miles, but why do we do so? The fact is, when left unrotated, your tires will start to suffer an uneven wear and tear. This causes increased noise on the road, a worse fuel economy for your vehicle, and worse traction in wet weather. Tires that are neglected in this manner will, naturally have to be replaced sooner as well. Remember to keep track of your rotation schedule when keeping your tires in check, you can get them rotated at most auto stores.
Check Your Air Pressure
Unfortunately, most drivers don’t check the air pressure in their tires nearly as often as they should. An over or under-inflated tire will wear the part down significantly, and could lead to a nasty blow out in the middle of driving. Keeping a tire pressure gauge on hand will help accurately measure how well your tires are inflated, as you can see if the pounds per square inch (PSI) are at the recommended manufacturer level.
Keeping track of your tires is just one of many ways to help ensure a safer driving experience on the road. Unfortunately, the amount of variables are overwhelming. If you or someone you know is suffering from the effects of a car accident in Ohio, contact us at Ohio Accident Attorneys today to see how our legal team can help.