Driving Safety

Take time every month and before every long drive to check your tires, including your spare.

Your tires can help keep you safe if you follow these tips:

• Go easy on the brakes when stopping. Save your tread for hugging the curves instead of screeching to a halt at a stop sign.
• If you go into a skid and your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brakes and turn in the direction of the skid. Do not pump the brakes.

In many parts of the country, winter brings a new set of rules to the road. Keep in mind:

• Should you become stuck in the snow, avoid spinning your tires. This can overheat them, causing tire failure and possible injury. The correct way to get out of snow is to gently rock your vehicle back and forth. If your vehicle has ABS brakes, follow the instructions in your owner's manual.
• If you drive a four-wheel-drive vehicle, don't become overconfident when driving in snow. Four-wheel drive cannot help you stop better, nor can it keep you from skidding.

The gray, rainy days that distinguish fall in many parts of the country create a very particular kind of driving risk.

Remember the following:

• Stopping on wet roads can take up to four times the normal distance. Also, your tires may skim over the surface of the road with little or no traction.
• In a sudden downpour, driving fast may cause your tires to lose grip with the road.
• Rain water that mixes with oil or grime on the streets can cause slippery conditions and may result in unexpected skidding. Slow down and pay attention to the possibility of skidding.

In many areas, the repeated freezing and thawing of moisture during winter produces treacherous potholes in the spring. Keep these driving tips in mind as you travel:

• Hitting a pothole can throw your car's front end out of alignment. If you feel your car "pulling" as you drive, you may have an issue. Check the tread on your tires. If you find uneven treadwear, it could be a sign of misalignment. If you hit a severe pothole, have a tire dealer check your vehicle's alignment and tire balance.
• Damage to your tire and/or the wheel of your vehicle can occur when you hit a pothole.
• The impact of potholes on tires increases dramatically depending on the speed at which your vehicle travels. This can cause hidden, internal damage that may lead to tire failure weeks, or even months, later. For these reasons, it is best to avoid potholes entirely. If that's not possible, avoid braking during pothole encounters. Instead, apply your brakes before hitting a pothole and release them just prior to impact. (Braking during impact sets up the tire and wheel assembly for a "solid hit" against the edge of the hole. Less severe damage may occur when a tire rolls over a pothole than when it skids during braking.)