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If you have been driving your vehicle and think that a tire is underin-
ated, ll it to the recommended cold ination pressure indicated on
your vehicle’s tire information placard or certication label. While your
tire may still be slightly underinated due to the extra pounds of pressure
in the warm tire, it is safer to drive with air pressure that is slightly lower
than the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended cold ination pressure
than to drive with a signicantly underinated tire. Since this is a tempo-
rary x, don’t forget to recheck and adjust the tire’s pressure when you
can obtain a cold reading.
1.5.5. TIRE SIZE
To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the same size as the
vehicle’s original tires or another size recommended by the manufac-
turer. Look at the tire information placard, the owner’s manual, or the
sidewall of the tire you are replacing to nd this information. If you have
any doubt about the correct size to choose, consult with the tire dealer.
1.5.6. TIRE TREAD
The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that prevent your
vehicle from slipping or sliding, especially when the road is wet or icy. In
general, tires are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn
down to 1/16 of an inch. Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that
let you know when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are
raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the tread grooves.
When they appear “even” with the outside of the tread, it is time to
replace your tires. Another method for checking tread depth is to place
a penny in the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If
you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you are ready for new tires.
1.5.7. TIRE BALANCE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT
To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when a tire rotates, the tire
must be properly balanced. This balance is achieved by positioning
weights on the wheel to counterbalance heavy spots on the wheel-and-
tire assembly. A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the wheels so that
they are positioned correctly relative to the vehicle’s frame. This adjust-
ment maximizes the life of your tires. These adjustments require special
equipment and should be performed by a qualied technician.
1.5.8. TIRE REPAIR
The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the hole and
a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the puncture hole.
Punctures through the tread can be repaired if they are not too large,
but punctures to the sidewall should not be repaired. Tires must be re-
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