On more than one occasion I have stressed the importance of having good tread on your sled. Why? Well, remember your tires are the only thing keeping you connected to the road. Often times we ignore our tires until we have a problem and that is not the way it should be.

On average a tire loses 1-2 pounds of pressure per month. Tires with lower air pressure run a higher risk of failure. Lower pressure also delivers lower gas mileage and that should be top of mind right now. Another interesting fact; 90% of tire damage occurs when there is 10% or less of tread remaining. Why? more surface area for road hazrds to come in contact with.

Check your tires today, or take them to your local tire dealer and they will check them for you. Big Brand, America's Tire, Sears and Tire Pro's all do free inspections. They not only check air pressure, they also check tread wear and remaining life as well.

When purchasing new tires always shop around. Shop based on out-the-door pricing, not just tire cost alone. Other added values many offer are; free tire rotation, free re-balancing and even free flat repair.

What about Road Hazard? Road hazard is okay, especially if you do a lot of off-roading or construction. For the average Joe, I say pass on the road hazard. The thing I ask friends is "how many flats have you had in your life". If the answer is less than a few times then I say save your money. The average cost for a set comes out to the cost of a new tire anyway!?

Be sure to rotate your tires every time you change your oil (every 5-k miles). The can give you up to 30% more life out of your set. Do you need to buy tires in a set? No. It is easier but if needed, you can buy in pairs as well. Why directional? Typically we found that directional tires do better in wet weather but in Souther California that isn't a high concern.

Feel free to contact me with questions on tires, or any aspect of your car for that matter.

Happy Motoring,

Lance