Tires are the only part of your car touching the road. A few minutes a month keeps them safe and wearing evenly.
Check pressure monthly
- Use the pressure on the sticker in the driver’s door jamb, not the maximum printed on the tire sidewall.
- Check when tires are cold – before driving or after the car has sat for a few hours.
- A digital or dial gauge is more reliable than the gauge on a gas-station hose. A portable inflator lets you top up at home.
- Don’t forget the spare.
Check tread depth
Tires have wear bars molded into the grooves; when the tread is level with them, it is time to replace. The penny test is a quick check: insert a penny head-first into a groove – if you can see all of Lincoln’s head, the tread is worn out. Uneven wear can mean alignment or pressure problems.
Flats and repairs
- A plug kit can be a roadside get-you-home fix for a nail or screw in the tread area.
- Punctures in the sidewall or shoulder cannot be safely repaired – replace the tire.
- Have any plugged tire inspected by a tire professional; a patch-plug from the inside is the lasting repair.
Wheels and lug nuts
Tighten lug nuts in a star pattern to the torque in your manual, and re-check after the first 50-100 miles following any wheel change. Keep your wheel-lock key in the glovebox.
Need a gauge, inflator or repair kit? call the parts counter at (909) 623-3151.