By Peggy Jo Goodfellow, Arizona Farm Bureau: Worn tires are dangerous! Added to that, the summer heat here in the desert southwest is brutal on tires. When the outside temperature hits 105 degrees, the road temperatures can be 15 to 20 degrees hotter. Keeping your tires in optimal condition year-round is as simple as these three easy steps:   

  • Check the tire pressure and tread depth monthly
  • Have the tires rotated every 5,000 to 6,000 miles
  • Have your alignment checked every 6 months.

“The most important safety checks on your tires – a pressure reading and tread depth measurement- are simple to do,” says Ken Passerby, Vice President of Operations & an ASE Certified Master Technician with Advanced Auto Service & Tire Centers, a Farm Bureau member benefit provider. “Tires need to be checked monthly to keep them at peak performance. It isn’t easy to find air stations these days which is why we provide free air pressure checks at all 14 Arizona locations.”

Monthly tire checks include:

  • Using a quarter, measure the tread depth of your tires. If the top of Washington’s head is exposed the tread depth is less than 4/32nds of an inch, making it time to start shopping for new tires.
  • Using a quality gauge, check tire pressure when your tires are cold. The recommended air pressure is in the vehicle’s owner’s manual and on the information decal usually located inside the driver’s door or glove compartment.

The psi number molded into the tire sidewall is the specifications for a tire carrying its maximum-rated payload and is not recommended for normal operating conditions.

Replace worn tires immediately to keep you and your family safe. If you are an Arizona Farm Bureau member, you can present your membership card to receive a 10% discount on tires at your local Advanced Auto Service and Tire Centers.

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