Tires

• Let the tires cool before checking their pressure (tires are more inflated when warm, less when cold).
• Remove the cap from the valve on one tire.
• Press a tire gauge hard onto the valve and note the reading. The sound of escaping air means you haven't inserted the gauge properly: it's either pressed on askew or you're pressing too lightly. (Image 2)
• Add air to achieve recommended pressure, which is listed on a sticker on the driver's side doorjamb and in the car's manual. If you overfill, you can release air by pushing on the tiny metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen or pencil. If you need to guess, 32 psi (pounds per square inch) is a good rule of thumb for most passenger cars with standard tires.
• Replace the valve cap. (Image 3) 6. Repeat with each tire, including the spare (the status of its pressure is often forgotten until it's needed, and then it's too late).
• Check the tread depth. Recommended depth differs with types of tires. For a standard sedan tire, a penny pushed into the tread can give you a rough reading. If you can see any of Lincoln's head, it may be time to replace the tire. A good tread-depth gauge can give you a more accurate reading. There may also be wear indicators built into the tread; if they show, replace the tire.
• Check for even wear (see "How to Interpret Your Car's Tire Wear.") If the treads on the outside or inside are particularly worn, you may need to rotate your tires or have your alignment checked.

The pressure you see on the tire's sidewall is the tire's maximum pressure - a number you don't want to achieve unless you're planning on carrying a very heavy load in your car. A slow leak may be the result of a bad or leaky tire valve. To ensure you're getting an accurate reading, invest in a good tire gauge (which should run around $20). Go ahead and use the recommended pressure stamped on the spare's sidewall to fill it. A smaller "temporary" spare requires about 60 psi.

Test Your Tire Care Know-How

Make regular tire care one of your New Year's resolutions! Find out how much you know about proper tire care by taking this test. The answers appear at the bottom.

True or False

Q.1 Your brakes stop the wheels, but the tires stop the car.

A.1 True. This is why tire care is so important. The control of your car is only as good as the tires' contact with the road.

Q.2 Tire pressure should be lowered in the winter.

A.2 False. Tire pressure usually lowers itself in winter -- dropping about one pound for every 10 degrees the temperature falls. Check tires regularly, particularly during the winter months, to ensure that the proper pressure is maintained.

Q.3 In the tire size "P195/70R14," the number 14 means it is a radial tire.

A.3 False. The letter "R" in the label means the tire is a radial. The number indicates the rim diameter is 14".

Q.4 A tire with too little air pressure will wear more on the outside of the tread.

A.4 False. The letter "R" in the label means the tire is a radial. The number indicates the rim diameter is 14".

Q.5 Tires are not considered safe when the tread is less than 1/16" thick.

A.5 True. Too little air will cause excessive wear on the outside of the tread. Too much air pressure will cause undue wear on the middle of the tread.

Q.6 Overloading a car has the same effect as having underinflated tires.

A.6 True. Many states have minimum tread depth laws that reject tires with tread worn below 1/16 of an inch in two or more adjacent grooves. The tire is considered worn out.

Q.7 Overloading a car has the same effect as having underinflated tires.

A.7 True. Most people know that driving with underinflated tires causes excess tread wear as well as making the tire prone to failure. But most people don't realize that overloading their car's tires has exactly the same effect.

Q.8 Every time a tire screeches, the potential mileage is reduced.

A.8 True. The driver who feels it is necessary to "peel out" from a stop sign or squeal around a corner potentially has erased hundreds of miles from the tread life of the tire.

Q.9 The best time to check the pressure in your tires is after a long trip.

A.9 False. Tire pressure will increase while driving so it is important to check tire pressure when tires are "cold" -- in the morning or BEFORE starting a trip. Recommended tire pressure is always expressed as cold tire pressure."

Q.10 Worn tires are more likely to "hydroplane.

A.10 True. A tire's tread grooves are designed to evacuate water from under the tread. If tires are worn, they are more likely to "hydroplane." This means they surf along on a film of water just like a water skier.

Q.11 While driving, if you think you have a flat tire, pull off the road immediately.

A.11 False. It is important to come to a gradual stop if you believe you have a flat tire. The driver should not pull off the road until he finds a safe place. It's better to ruin a tire than risk an accident.