AutoWeek Magazine Provides Tire Safety Tips

DETROIT, June 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It's National Tire SafetyWeek, and AutoWeek magazine - the premiere resource for fivegenerations of automotive enthusiasts - is focusing on the oft-neglected but important rules of how rubber should meet road.

"A Rubber Manufacturers Association survey shows that 85 percentof motorists don't know how to properly inflate their tires and only20 percent of drivers check their tire pressure each month," saidJulie Alvin, AutoWeek associate editor. "When you consider that AAAanticipates that it will assist 1.2 million stranded motorists withtire-related issues this summer, there's much to be learned."

To help make sure you're not one of the 1.2 million stranded,follow these general guidelines:

Check tire pressure. Do this at least once a month and before andafter any long trips. Automakers often suggest a tire pressure inthe neighborhood of 30 psi, but you should check your owner's manualto see what your car needs.

Rotate your tires. Michelin says this should be done every 6,000to 8,000 miles. Every tire will wear differently. On front-wheel-drive cars, the front wheels wear at almost twice the rate of therear wheels, and in left-hand-drive countries, the left tire willwear faster than the right.

Examine your treads. To make sure your tires have a tread depthof at least 4/32 inch, stick a quarter, Washington's head facingdown, into one of the tire-tread grooves. If any part ofWashington's head is obscured, you have at least that amount oftread. Prefer to stick with the legal 2/32-inch tread depth? Performthe same check, but use a penny and, of course, Lincoln's head.

Align your wheels. Improperly aligned wheels can create rapid anduneven wear, says the RMA. Misaligned wheels can also createsteering and tracking problems. According to Midas, a basic four-wheel alignment on an average sedan will cost about $80.

Keep the deepest treads in the rear. Though this may seemcounterintuitive, since the front tires do the braking and steering,if you have two newer tires and two older tires, keep the newerrubber on the rear wheels. Deeper treads grip the road and channelwater better, making the rear of the car less likely to hydroplaneand fishtail.

For more information on staying safe this summer, see Five Tipsto Keep Your Tires in Top Shape on www.autoweek.com.

About AutoWeek

AutoWeek, launched in 1958, based in Detroit, Mich., andpublished by Crain Communications Inc., is a fortnightly magazine ofconsumer car news, information and insight. It's also delivered viathe Internet (www.autoweek.com) and the iPad, over the radio andvideo airwaves and through social media. The autoweek.com Web siteincludes Daily Drive, an e-mail newsletter sent to more than 100,000registrants; Car Life, a social community; and AutoWeek TV, a dailyvideo newscast. The AutoWeek iPhone app Car News & Reviews is thefirst free app built for serious enthusiasts.

SOURCE AutoWeek