AUTO MAINTENANCE & DRIVING SAFETY
CJ's Tire & Automotive wants to remind drivers during National Tire Safety Week (June 27 - July 3), that checking and maintaining their tires will keep them safer on the road this summer. National Tire Safety Week is an annual industry-led initiative designed to help consumers learn simple yet essential steps for proper tire care and maintenance. A recent survey of U.S. drivers revealed more than half of Americans plan to travel exclusively by car this summer to reach their vacation destinations, while nearly one-third said they plan to travel more than 500 miles by car.
Rotation
Routine tire rotation helps prevent uneven tire wear and maximizes tire tread life. Tires should be rotated, and alignment checked every 4,000 to 5,000 miles and tires should be re-balanced and aligned according to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations or whenever the driver feels any vibration or sees signs of irregular wear.
All it takes to check tread depth is a quarter. Turn the quarter upside down and dip it into the tread groove. If Washington's head is fully visible, the tires have 4/32” or less of tread depth left. That is a sign that new tires are needed sooner rather than later. As tires wear down and the grooves become shallower, tires will simply have less grip when accelerating, cornering, and braking when driving in adverse weather conditions.
With that in mind, CJ's is reminding drivers that tire safety is as simple as three words inflation, rotation, and inspection:
Inflation
Tire pressure should be checked monthly, as well as before long trips or when carrying an extra load using a tire pressure gauge. Proper tire inflation pressure helps maximize vehicle performance and fuel economy, avoid irregular tire wear, and extend overall mileage and tire tread life. Drivers can find the correct tire inflation information for their vehicle in the vehicle owner's manual or on the tire information placard located on the driver side door panel.
If you find that you do need new tires, it's always best to buy tires in sets of four for the best balance of grip and handling. That said if you only need two new tires, be sure to place the new tires in the rear to help maintain the best traction and control on wet roads.
Inspection
Drivers should visually inspect the sidewalls for any signs of damage from curbs, potholes, etc. and the tread blocks for signs of irregular wear. They also need to make sure their tires have enough tread to grip the road, especially on wet roads.
According to CJ's Vice President, Bill Bainbridge, “We, along with the United States Tire Manufacturers Association advocate safe, sustainable, mobility for consumers. Today's modern tire is a highly engineered marvel that maximizes safety, performance, handling, durability, fuel economy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Vehicles equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems help but are not fail safe in preventing tire related problems. Tires are a significant investment and following these easy steps will offer benefits to both the consumer's wallet and to our environment.” Headquartered in Birdsboro, CJ's Tire & Automotive is family-owned and operated with 17 retail locations including King of Prussia, West Chester, Limerick, and Lansdale. For more than 50 years, CJ's has been southeastern Pennsylvania's “Better, Faster, and More Affordable” choice for tires and complete car care. For more information, visit us at cjtire.com.
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