It pays to take care of your
tires. Well-maintained tires are
essential for your safety. They
can also help you save money
at the pump—and they’re better
for the environment because
they improve your car’s efficiency.
Check for wear at least once
a month. How? Using a tread
depth gauge. Simply insert the
tip of the depth gauge into the
tread lines and read the
measurement. If the tread
depth is less than 4 millimetres,
tire performance will be
compromised in rain or snow.
While you don’t have to
replace your tires right away, it
is a warning that you are at
greater risk of skidding out
of control on wet or icy roads.
Check your air pressure
monthly, too. Be sure to you
use one of these pressure
gauges. Because you can’t
always tell if a tire’s properly
inflated just by looking at it.
For the best reading, check the
pressure when the tires are
cold, like when the car’s been
out all night. Oh, see this
This symbol means the tire has
been specially designed for
winter use. Winter tires, like
these, help you maintain
control of your car on snow or ice.
Make sure that all four tires on
your vehicle are the same—it
improves handling and control.
That means all the tires should
be the same brand, and it also
means not mixing and matching
winter tires with summer tires.