Tire care and maintenance

Why tire care and maintenance is important

The consumer plays an important role in tire maintenance. Tires may have to be removed from service for numerous reasons, including tread wear. The minimum legal tread wear limit after which the tyre needs to be removed from service is 1.6mm, damage or abuse (punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, bulges, underinflation, overloading, etc). For these reasons tires, including spares, must be inspected routinely, i.e., at least once a month. Regular inspection becomes particularly important the longer a tire is kept in service. If tire damage is suspected or found, Continental recommends that the consumer have the tire inspected by a tire service professional. Consumers should use this consultation to determine if the tires can continue in service. It is recommended that spare tires be inspected at the same time. This routine inspection should occur whether or not the vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware of their tires’ visual condition. Also, they should be alert for any change in dynamic performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration. Such changes could be an indicator that one or more of the tires should be immediately removed from service to prevent a tire disablement.