Have you observed any of these signs of trouble when inspecting your tires?

• Cracking or cuts in the sidewalls.
• Uneven tread wear. This can be caused by improper inflation, misaligned wheels, damaged tires, or by problems with suspension parts.
• Excessively worn tread. Most modern tires have tread-wear indicator bars running across the tread, which signal the minimum allowable tread depth of 1/16-inch. When the tread wears down to these bars, it’s time for new tires. Inexpensive tread-wear gauges are available at auto-parts and tire stores.
• Bulges or blisters. If you see a bulge or blister on the sidewall, replace the tire at once. These signal potential weak spots that could lead to tire failure.
• Excessive vibration. Tire vibration may be a sign a wheel is misaligned, unbalanced, or bent. It could also signify internal tire damage. Don’t ignore vibration: Have the vehicle serviced at once.

If yes, then according to Consumer Reports, your tires are exhibiting early warning signs of tire failure.  Stop by Frank’s Tire for a new set of tires to keep yourself and your family safe!

A Purdue University professor says he has developed a “smart” tire that can sense damage when it loses air pressure. “Some tire damage is not easily detected,” says Gary Krutz, director of Purdue’s Electrohydraulic Center. Krutz’s system uses sensors that let drivers know “when a tire condition has degraded,” according to Purdue officials. “The sensors also can notify drivers of low air pressure or unbalanced air pressure between tires.

Purdue University develops ‘smart’ tire

With winter here, Continental Tire North America, Inc., is launching a “45-degree Make the Switch” campaign. “It’s a fact: as temperatures drop below 45-degree, so does an all-season tire’s ability to grip the road. And that can lead to dangerous driving conditions,” said Joerg Burfien, director of R & D, Continental Tire North American, Inc. “Since all-season and winter tires are about as similar as sandals and snowshoes, we’ve launched this program to encourage our customers to stay safer in winter by switching to Continental Winter Tires.

Continental Winter Tires are available at Frank’s Tire Service. Call, stop by, or click the link below to find out more!

Temperatures Are Dropping: Time to Make the Switch to Continental Winter Tires