Most drivers completely forget about their tires until they get a flat or a blowout. This can be dangerous, so it's best to stay on top of their condition. To do this, use these tips.

How to Check Your Car's Tires

You may not think about them often, but your car's tires are super important for the well-being of your car and for your road safety. If you feel like you're not qualified to check on your tires yourself, this simply isn't true. With the following tips, you can take care of this simple yet important maintenance task.

How Much Tread Is Left?

The first thing you'll want to check on is your tire tread. The tread refers to the rubber part of your tires that makes contact with the road. Your tread is important because its what gives you traction, so when it wears down, your tires won't be as effective. A tire with severely worn should be replaced immediately because it can put you in danger. To check the tread you'll need a penny. Tire tread should be at least at 1/16th of an inch, but instead of measuring it with a ruler you can use a penny. To do this, pick a tire and insert the penny into the grooves that make up the tread. Stick the penny in headfirst and take a look at how much of Lincoln's head is visible once it's all the way in. If the top of Lincoln's head is visible, you'll need to get your tires replaced. If most of his head is still covered, then your tires are fine for now. Don't just do this in one spot since tire tread can sometimes wear down unevenly. Insert the penny in a few different spots in your tire, such as the middle and the sides. If you notice uneven wear, this is a good reason to get your tire alignment and tire pressure checked out.

Wear and Cracks

After checking your tire tread, focus some attention on the sidewalls of your tires. The sidewalls are the parts that face outward but don't touch the road. Even though these don't come into contact with the road, they can still see their fair share of wear. To start, inspect the sidewalls carefully making note of any cracks you come across. Even though cracks may seem small and unimportant, they can actually be a sign of trouble. These can often appear as the tire gets worn down, leaving it in danger of a blowout or a flat. If you notice cracks in your tires, get these replaced before you find yourself in trouble. It's not all about your car's tires. You'll also want to be sure your engine is well taken care of. To do this, give your car a synthetic oil change in Williston to keep it running at its best. Click here to purchase AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil which can keep your engine at its best no matter what season the year it is. To find even more great products like this, contact the oil pros at Advanced Filtration Technologies, Inc at (701) 572- 3780.

Bulges in the Sidewall

After looking for cracks, inspect the tire for air bubbles. These may look like bulges or blisters in the sidewall and usually aren't too hard to spot. Air bubbles are the result of impact and indicate that there was structural damage done to the tire. If you drove through a pothole at a high speed or hit the curb while trying to park, this is a good reason to be on the lookout for developing air bubbles. Since this damage is quite significant, it can't be repaired or reversed. You may not notice a tiny air bubble at first, but as it starts to become visible and grow, this can lead to serious road danger. In fact, air bubbles can cause your tire to blowout when you least expect it. Not only can this lead you to get stranded on the road, but it can also cause a scary and often dangerous scenario for you and other drivers. As soon as you notice an air bubble, get the damaged tires changed.

Keep Your Car in Great Shape With a Synthetic Oil Change in Williston, ND

To keep your car's engine running strong, give it a synthetic oil change in Williston, ND. Using synthetic oil can keep it running at its best for longer when compared to conventional oil. To learn more about the benefits of synthetic oil, contact the friendly oil pros at Advanced Filtration Technologies, Inc. by calling (701) 572- 3780.