Tires: Testing and Inspection

Inspect for the following conditions:
^ Inspect for misaligned wheels.
^ Inspect for excessive toe or camber.
^ Inspect for broken springs.
^ Inspect for sagging springs.
^ Inspect for mispositioned springs.
^ Inspect for incorrect tire balance.
^ Inspect for wear or damage to the strut.
^ Inspect for wear or damage to the shock absorbers.
^ Inspect for signs of vehicle abuse.
^ Inspect for uneven or excessive loading of the vehicle.
^ Inspect for incorrect tire pressure.
^ Inspect for properly rotated tires.

The original equipment tires have built-in tread wear indicators to show when tires need replacement. These indicators appear as 12.7 mm (1/2 in) wide bands when the tire tread depth becomes 1.6 mm (1/16 in). When the indicators appear in 2 or more grooves at three locations tire replacement is recommended.

The following conditions may cause irregular and premature tire wear:
^ Incorrect inflation pressures
^ Lack of tire rotation
^ Driving habits
^ Wheel alignment

Rotate the tires if the following conditions are noted:
^ When the front tire wear is different from the rear tire wear.
^ When uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.
^ When the left front and the right front tire wear is unequal.
^ When the left rear and right rear tire wear is unequal.

Check wheel alignment if the following conditions are noted:
^ When the left and the right front tire wear is unequal.
^ When the rear is uneven across the tread of any front tire.
^ When the front tire treads have a scuffed appearance with feather edges on one side of tread ribs or blocks.