Your car’s tires have been sitting around while you shelter in place. Are they still road worthy? Maybe not. Tiremaker Pirelli has put together a list of checks they advise drivers follow before they hit the road and head back to work.
Look at your tires.
Checking tires visually to see if there are any lumps or deformations caused by the car standing still for a long time, or by the weather conditions. Check also for damage, cuts, abrasions and the tire bulging – and ensure that the valve caps are tight.
Check your tire pressure.
Checking tire pressures, also the spare tire, ideally at a tire dealer with professional monitoring equipment. This helps guarantee optimal performance and safety, as well as the correct rolling resistance to enhance fuel economy.
The penny test is a good way to check the depth of your tire tread.
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Check the depth of your tire tread.
Tire wear to be above the legal limit of 2/32-inch tread depth. This can be checked using the tread depth indicator on the tire itself. Or, use the penny test.
What’s the penny test? Place a penny, with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you, into the tread groove on your tire. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is less than 2/32-inch and it’s time to replace your tires.
Listen and feel.
Pay close attention to any vibrations may be felt through the steering wheel after the car has been standing for a long period of time. If these don’t go away after the first few miles, get the car looked at by professionals as soon as possible.
