Inspect tire regularly for abnormal wear or damage

To ensure maximum tire life and safety, give your tires a visual inspection at least once a month and before long trips. This is easily done at the same time you check pressures.

Look for the following in your tires:

  • Excessive or uneven tread wear, which may indicate improper inflation or steering and suspension misalignment;
  • Cracks or bulges on the sidewalls or tread;
  • Chunking of the tread or any indication of tread separation from the carcass;
  • Signs of puncture, or nails, screws, glass, pieces of stone or any foreign object imbedded in the tire.
If you detect any of these conditions, take the vehicle in for further diagnosis immediately. In most cases, punctures can be repaired if their size is not excessive.
In general, external "plugs" are not recommended. Repairs should be made from the inside, and a complete inspection made while the tire is off the rim. Sealing compounds and other emergency aids should be treated only as a means of moving the vehicle to a safe location for repair and should be communicated to the technician one was used. If abnormal tire pressure loss occurs, check the valve stems for leakage, as well as the tire itself.