Your Tyre Maintenance Checklist

Pressure – under-inflation is the leading cause of tyre failure. It results in unnecessary tyre stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tyre can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat.

Alignment – a bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tyres. Have a tyre dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is properly aligned.

Rotation – regularly rotating your vehicle’s tyres will help you achieve more uniform wear. Unless your vehicle’s owner manual has a specific recommendation, the guideline for tyre rotation is approximately every 6,000 miles.

Tread – advanced and unusual wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip the road in adverse conditions. Visually check your tyres for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also check for signs of damage.

How To Check Air Pressure

Refer to your vehicle’s owner manual for the proper level of inflation; it may also be posted on the doorpost or in the glove box.

When you check the air pressure, make sure the tyres are cool – meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile. (Note: If you have to drive a distance to get air, check and record the tyre pressure first and add the appropriate pressure when you get to the pump. It is normal for tyres to heat up and the air pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never “bleed” or reduce air pressure when tyres are hot.)

Remove the cap from the tyre valve, firmly press a tyre gauge onto the valve and note the reading.


Add air to achieve recommended air pressure.

If you overfill the tyre, you can release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve with the fingernail or the tip of a pen. Then re-check the pressure with the tyre gauge.

Replace the valve cap.

Repeat with each tyre, including the spare. (Note: Some spare tyres require higher inflation pressure).

Why Check Your Alignment?

If your car’s suspension system is out of alignment, your tyres will wear unevenly and you may experience handling problems. Potholes and rough roads can contribute to problems with alignment.

Front-wheel drive vehicles, and those with independent rear suspension, require alignment of all four wheels.

Have a tyre dealer check your alignment periodically as specified by your vehicle’s owner manual or if handling problems develop, such as “pulling” or vibration.

Also have your tyre balance checked periodically. An unbalanced tyre and wheel assembly may result in irregular wear.

Why Rotate Your Tyres?

Each tyre on your car supports a different amount of weight; this unequal weight distribution causes your tyres to wear at different rates. By rotating your tyres, you can extend their useful life.

If your tyres should show any uneven wear, ask your tyre dealer to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problems involved before rotation.

Refer to your vehicle’s owner manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tyres should be rotated approximately every 6,000 miles.

Sometimes front and rear tyres use different pressures. After rotation, adjust individual tyre air pressure to the figure recommended for each wheel position by the vehicle manufacturer.

How To Check Tread

When the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, tyres must be replaced.


All tyres have “wear bars,” which are small, raised bars of rubber in the groove that indicate when tyres are worn out. If your tread is worn down to the wear bars, it’s time for a new tyre.

Visually check your tyres for sign of uneven wear. You may have irregular tread wear if there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas. Also make sure no nails or other objects are embedded in the tyre. Consult your tyre dealer as soon as possible if you see problems.