Winter in the mountains is not a forgiving season on cars, especially on tires. With heavy snowfall and windy roads, it is important to make sure that your tires are in good condition to handle those mountain roads. Take a look below and see these 5 tips from Peak 1 Express on checking tire tread.
- One of the most common ways to check tread is with a penny. Simply insert a penny upside down. If you can see the top of President Lincoln’s head, your tire tread is too low.
- Another way to check tread is by looking at the “wear bars.” Wear bars look like narrow strips of smooth rubber and will appear on the tire when the tread is too low. When you see these “wear bars” the tire is worn out and should be replaced.
- See if you alignment is okay. If you notice uneven wear on tires it could mean your alignment is off. Having proper alignment in your car can dramatically increase the life of your tires.
- Have you been noticing a loss of traction on snowy and rainy roads? If so, it could be because your tire tread is too low.
- If you see that your tires are low or flat, the tread on your tires could not only be read wrong, but also decrease the tread life by 25%!
Driving on tires with little to no tread drastically increases your chances for a crash. With proper tire care you not only stay safe on the road, but also get better fuel efficiency and make your tires last longer. Use these 5 tips to help check your tire tread throughout the season whether you are in Breckenridge or any other snowy part of the country!