AIR PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE CHANGES
Proper air pressure is always a huge component of tire safety as it ensures your tires can perform as designed. When seasons change, like from winter to spring, there will be fluctuations in the air pressure of your tires.
We recommend checking your tires' air pressure every month and before any long trips, but especially after any extreme temperature changes. Extreme temperature changes affect tire air pressure.
We recommend you inflate your tires to the manufacturer-recommended pressure for the best possible performance. You can find it on your driver's door panel, on the glove box or in the owner's manual. Tire pressure affects your tire's wet weather performance. Maintaining proper air pressure will help combat some of the most common challenges in spring driving, including rain and potholes.
Did you know America's Tire offers complimentary air checks?
WET WEATHER DRIVING IN THE SPRING
Spring often brings sporadic downpours, making driving difficult and dangerous. Roads can become very slick when rainwater mixes with the accumulated oil and grime on streets.
Sudden downpours introduce the risk that your vehicle could hydroplane. You should adjust your speed and pay close attention to the road surface. Watch for standing water that might cause hydroplaning.
Tread depth also plays a big role in wet weather driving. We recommend checking your tread depth when you check your air pressure each month, and also before long trips.
Wet weather traction can be seriously diminished as early as 5/32nds of tread depth. Your tires must have enough tread depth to evacuate water from the contact patch and properly grip the road, especially with the possibility of sporadic rain and damaged road conditions due to winter weather.
SPRINGTIME DRIVING HAZARDS
If you live in a region with harsh winter conditions, keep an eye out for serious potholes after the ice thaws. During winter months, moisture can seep into the road's surface and repeated freezing and thawing can cause potholes.
If your vehicle hits a pothole hard enough, it can seriously damage your wheels and tires. Damage will be more severe the faster the vehicle is traveling. If you cannot avoid one, reduce your speed but release the brake before actually striking the pothole.
It is worth noting that properly inflated tires are less susceptible to damage from potholes than underinflated tires.
If you hit a pothole, we recommend having your tires and wheels inspected for damage. Potholes can bend and/or crack wheels and cause irreparable damage to your tires. The damage may not be noticeable to you immediately but can cause wheel and/or tire failure in the future. Sometimes damage that is caught early can be remedied and prevent worsening cracking or other damage down the road.
America's Tire offers a suite of wheel repair and tire repair options.
If you have questions or need any assistance, give us a ring, drop by your local America's Tire store or make an appointment to save some time. We'll get you taken care of.
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