“Tires are the single most important mechanical component of vehicle control and safe driving,” according to Oregon State Police Safety Tips.

Five Unseen Dangers of Worn Tires

• Heat Build-Up
  Worn tire tread increases heat build-up. As the distance between the tire and the road decreases due to less tread, less airflow is available between the road and the tire. Heat is the great enemy of tire rubber and a major factor in tire failure.

• Puncture
  Tire tread protects the tire casing from puncture. Worn out tread greatly increases the chances for a tire blowout due to puncture.
• Hydroplaning
  Worn tire tread can cause hydroplaning, a problem that can begin at about 5/32” of tread remaining.
• Balance, Alignment
  Tire balance and suspension alignment problems that cause dangerous tire wear can easily go unnoticed by most drivers. This new safety system makes these problems obvious and correctable.
• Underinflation
  Tires with worn tread are more likely to be seriously under inflated. This condition can adversely impact steering, braking and fuel mileage.

Drivers Don't Know When Their Tires Are Unsafe

• Two out of three drivers do not know how to tell if their tires are bald, according to the Rubber Manufacturers Association.
• Nearly one in 10 vehicles on our roads today is driving with at least one bald tire (2/32” of tread remaining), according to the U. S. Department of Transportation. That means nearly 23-million vehicles are driving with a bald tire (based on 230-million vehicles registered in the United States ).
• Worn tire tread can lead to tragic tire blowout and hydroplaning accidents.
• So check the tire tread often 1 a month or have an auto repair shop check the tires for you. Most repair center will provide this service for free