Hot wheels: What you need to know to stay on the road

How to check your tire pressure

More about Steve

It's the number one car problem. In fact, it's so common that there's a good chance it's happened to you in the last year... "it" being a flat tire. Our auto expert is here with some tips on how to make sure your tires are always ready to roll.

Steve Strope designs award-winning hot rods and muscle cars. He's a perfectionist when it comes to building high-performance street machines. Today, Steve's all about the rubber on your car.

"If you're like most people, you probably don't think much about your tires until one goes flat or, even worse, blows out," says Steve. "Well, paying attention to your tires before there's trouble will not only save you money … it could save your life."

The first step in keeping your tires roadworthy is keeping them properly inflated. Investing a few dollars in a tire gauge could not only save you hundreds, but maybe thousands. That is, if you use it! Tires that are either over or under inflated wear out faster. That means you could be buying new tires sooner than you need to.

So between premature tread wear and decreased fuel economy, driving on tires that are improperly inflated is a big waste of money. Check your owner's manual to find the correct tire pressure for your car. But remember to check your tire's sidewall to find the maximum tire pressure you can put in that tire and do not exceed that number.

Back in the good old days, a gas station attendant would come out and check your tires every time you filled up. Use that as a gauge. Every time you stop to get gas, check your tire pressure.

Now it's also important to maintain a consistent rotation schedule. You want to rotate your tires periodically so they wear evenly. The owner's manual is your cheat-sheet with all the right answers. Flip through it, find the section about the tire rotation and it'll give you the exact time you should be rotating tires for that car.

"Tires are easy to ignore," says Steve. "But if you properly maintain them, your tires will take you farther down the road and save you money in the long run."

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Hot wheels: What you need to know to stay on the road - AmericaNowNews.com

How to check your tire pressure

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