News

Summer heat and long miles can be tough on tires while you're taking a road trip. At New England Tire, we'd like to pass a few tips on to you: 

-- Check your tire inflation at least once a month, and always before a long trip. We can't stress this enough. Underinflated tires mean more friction, added rolling resistance and more heat buildup. They also mean poorer fuel economy, handling, and braking performance. If you want to ruin a set of tires, driving around with low tire pressure is the perfect way to do it. 

-- Rotate tires every 6,000 miles for even wear, and note any uneven wear patterns that could indicate an alignment or suspension problem. 

--  Check your tread and sidewall for bulges, cracks or other damage. 

-- Check your tread depth using a penny. 2/32" is minimum tread depth by state law; if you insert the penny with Lincoln's head down and the tread doesn't reach his head, it's time to replace the tires. Try it again with a quarter; if the tread reaches Washington's head, that's 4/32". Once again with the penny -- does the tread touch the Lincoln Memorial? That's a  depth of 6/32". 

-- Try to avoid overloading the vehicle, which puts a lot of stress on tires. 

-- If your tires are six years old, regardless of their tread depth or condition, you may want to consider replacing them. Evidence now shows that at the six-year mark, tire compounds can start to age and break down, leading to tread separation and tire failure. 

At New England Tire Company, we want you to have peace of mind when you take it out on the road this summer, and we want you to be safe! If you're thinking you need tires or just some tire maintenance this summer, make an appointment with us!