Buying a vehicle and using is not just enough for its smooth functioning. Car tire safety and maintenance is of utmost importance. Any tire problems can cause major inconvenience, especially when you are in transit. Moreover, the heat is accumulated in the tires during a long drive can elevate these tire problems. To make the most out of the tires of your car, you have to pay special attention to car tire safety.

Make sure you do monthly pressure checks, regular checks for cuts, bulges, and cracks. You should also check the depth of the tread. Additionally, you should buy new tires before the old ones have worn down excessively. Here is a step by step guide for achieving maximum car tire safety:

1. Check tire pressure
The pressure of air in your tire is the most essential part of a tire. While many people choose to do seasonal checks, it is recommended to check tire pressure as a part of a car tire safety check every month. The appropriate car tire air pressure levels can increase your tire’s service life.

Tires lose air pressure with use over a period of time. This causes the tire to underinflate, which, in turn, can cause excessive flexing in a tire. Moreover, underinflated tires wear out at a faster pace and can have a lower fuel-efficiency.

2. Check tread depth and worn spots
You only need a quarter to check the depth of your tire treads. All you have to do is place the quarter in the groove of your tire treads in an upside-down fashion. The quarter used as currency in the country has George Washington’s face engraved on it. The distance between the rim of the coin to George Washington’s hairline is approximately 0.125 inches. If the entire head of George Washington’s engraving fits into a groove, that is where the tire is worn down excessively. This also means that you should shop for new tires to change the old ones immediately.

3. Check tire sidewalls
A crucial yet overlooked part of car tire safety is checking the sidewalls of the tires. They can have serious amounts of damage if you have to drive on less than ideal roads. Any encounter with curbs, potholes, or any other objects in the road can lead to bulges or cuts in your tires. You should immediately replace your tires if you find any such sign of damage.

4. Check the tire’s age
Every tire is engraved with a date code. This date code provides the date when the tire was manufactured. The code usually looks like the word “DOT” followed by a numerical sequence and is situated at the lower part of your tire’s sidewall. The last four digits signify the manufacturing date of the tire. For example, if the final four digits of the code are 4018, this implies that the tire was manufactured in the 20th week of 2018. Knowing the manufacturing date can give you an idea of how much wear and tear your tire has gone through.

Certain manufacturers advise that you should replace your tires after six years, regardless of the amount of wear and tear. Doing so will greatly improve car tire safety.