Worn out tires and windshield wiper blades are symptoms of neglected vehicle maintenance that put drivers and passengers at serious risk during the typically rainy months of spring.
Thin tire treads create hazardous driving conditions when water builds up on the roadway, according to the Car Care Council. Deep tread disperses accumulated water, but thin tread does not. Thin tread causes the tire to hydroplane, losing contact with the pavement, similar to driving on ice.
The simplest way to check tire tread depth is with a penny. Insert the penny into the grooves of the tread. If you are able to see all of Lincoln’s head, the tire needs replacing.
Rainy weather also affects driver visibility. Because 90 percent of driving decisions depend on good vision, a clean windshield is imperative. Streaking and smearing impair vision and are caused by worn windshield wipers. One out of every five vehicles that went through the Car Care Council’s check lanes had worn wiper blades. Replacing worn wiper blades is easy and inexpensive.
And a reminder too, that during spring downpours your headlights need to be working properly to see and be seen!