MICHELIN TIRES:Safe summer road trips depend on the right tires

MICHELIN TIRES:Safe summer road trips depend on the right tires

Lots of motorists will take road trips to their summer vacations out-of-town, and that extra long drive on unfamiliar terrain calls for checking your tires now more than ever. Prevent unwanted car problems and terrible accidents, by making sure you still have the right air pressure, tread depth and good condition for those tires. Below are other signs if tires need to be switched out, right in time for this season. 

When your tire has a puncture.This is the most urgent time to change your tires. Punctured tires can immediately be spotted as this kind of damage causes the tire pressure to drop rapidly. This is quite dangerous when you are on the move and tires should be changed as soon as possible. If you're on the road, park the car on the side of the road in a safe place and change your tire with your spare. There is no compromise on this. 

Worn Tire Treads.Tire treads provide the traction between the car and the road which helps prevent the vehicles from slipping out of control. Tire treads are also a good indicator of when you should change your tires. If your tire treads are worn, they should be changed immediately. Or else you stand the chance of careening on the highway, especially if the road is wet.

Sidewall Damage.The sidewall, as the name implies, is the side of the car tires -- the part of the tire you see when you're looking at your car from the side. Sidewall damage usually happens when you hit a curb during a turn, or when your tire hits a hard solid or sharp object that can damage the sidewall. When the sidewall is damaged, lumps can develop on your tires which may eventually lead to a tire blowout if they don't get changed right away. So heed the first sign of trouble, which is a less than perfect sidewall.

Abnormal Wear.Sometimes tires get worn out, seemingly without any obvious reason. Some tires wear out faster than the other tires in the car. This is most likely caused by improper wheel alignment. Improperly aligned wheels can cause abnormal, uneven wear on tires because pressure is not evenly distributed on the wheels. This condition is a good indicator of when you should get your tires fixed. As future preventive measure, always check the alignment to prevent abnormal wear from happening again.

Aging.Just like everything, tires will eventually age and deteriorate. Even if no major damage like punctures or uneven wear is visible on your tire, they still need to be replaced due to regular wear and tear. Look at your tires and see if the tire treads are still visible. If your tire looks smoother and resembles a life saver, that tire is definitely crying out to be changed. Some tires may also age faster, surprisingly due to heat from overuse and heat from a tropical climate, so be sure to look out for those signs of damage as well.

Selecting the right tire.Knowing the right type, size, season, and even function of the tire will let your car’s tires last their longest. It canlet you save on gas and ultimately prevent life-threatening accidents. One way to find the correct size and tire type for your vehicle is to look at the car manual. You can also check out the MICHELIN Tire Selector online that can recommend durable, top-quality tires based on the tire size, and even match it to the year of the car’s manufacture.Visit www.michelin.com.ph for more information.

Michelin, the leading tire company, is dedicated to sustainably improving the mobility of goods and peopleby manufacturing and marketing tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles/motorcycles, earthmovers, farm equipment and trucks.It also offers electronic mobility support services on ViaMichelin.com and publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases.Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in more than 170 countries, has 113,400 employees and operates 69 production plants in 18 different countries.The Group has a Technology Center in charge of research, development and process engineering, with operations in Europe, North America and Asia.(www.michelin.com)

Disclaimer: This is not a paid post.