It’s Time To Get Your Tire Inspection Rolling by Bobby Hamilton (NAPSA)—It’s the seasonfor get- ting our vehicles in gear for 2006. Let’s begin with the only part of your car or truck that actually touches the highway—your tires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says Munderinflation is the leading cause A tire doesn’t have to be punctured Be your own crew chief andfol- all your tires—even the spare—at least once a month with tire Hamilton of tire failure—and tire failure can lead to accidents. low these simple guidelines from the NHTSAandother experts: Take a peek at yourtires: Visually inspect your tires on a regular basis. Consumer Reports says consult a professional if you see cracks or cuts on the side- walls. If you see bulgesorblisters, which signal potential weak spots to lose air. Check the pressure in gauge. tread, it’s time to buy newtires. Rotation, rotation, rotation: Most manufacturers recommend rotating tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. However, some four-wheeldrive vehicles require rotation even sooner, such as every 4,000 miles. that could lead to tire failure, Always check your owner’s manual. have to be punctured to lose air. vice president of AutoVantage, “One of the best precautions is proper —even the spare—at least once a month with a tire gauge. hazardousroad conditions.” It’s reported that members of replace thetire at once. Underpressure:A tire doesn’t Tires naturally lose air over time. Check the pressure in all yourtires According to Brad Eggleston, tire maintenance, which keeps your vehicle humming during the often eHow muchair?: Tires should AutoVantage (www.autovantage.com square inch, recommendedby the vehicle’s manufacturer. Time matters: The best time for checking pressure is when a tire is “cold”—at least three hours after the vehicle has been driven. to 20 percent on car care at some 19,000 service locations. AutoVantage is offered by Affinion Group, a be inflated to the psi, or pounds per Even if you only drive your car around the block, the tire still needs to rest for three hours to get an accurate reading. eTread test: Make sure your tires have the proper amountof tread. Manytires have tread wear indicator bars molded into the tread. If you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the or 1-800-876-7787) can save from 5 leader in the membership,insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services for millions ofAmericans. Bobby Hamilton, a spokesman for AutoVantage, is the 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion after achieving four career NASCAR Winston Cup Series victories. He founded Bobby Hamilton Racing, which owns and operates three trucks in the NASCAR circuit.
