You probably heard people say use a penny to test how much life you have left on your tires. But the latest safety research shows with today’s tire technology, you must use a quarter instead.

That’s because studies show your tire tread should measure at least 4/32 of an inch to prevent sudden blowouts, flats, or braking accidents. And to maintain control during sudden movements.

Here’s how to do the quarter test: Place a quarter head first (that’s upside down) into the groove between the tire treads. If the tread stops at the top of George Washington’s head, you’re at the legal minimum and should plan to get new tires soon. 

If you see any part of his head covered, then you’re fine. 

But if you see more than the top of his head exposed  then come into Mill Street Tire immediately for a free Tire Life Test. It only takes a few seconds.

Remember, to prevent sudden blowouts, braking accidents, or loss of control, use the quarter test or come by Mill Street Tire for a free Tire Life Test.

It only takes a few seconds to keep you and your loved ones safe!

(in the margin, a graphic that says the following)

Only Mill Street Tire gives you the Safe Tire Guarantee™

• Guaranteed expert service 
• Guaranteed tire quality
• Guaranteed the ideal tire for your needs and budget

Did you know if you buy a set a tires and never bother to rotate them, your front tires will last around 15,000 miles? And your rear tires should last at least 45,000 miles?

This means you can replace your front tires 3 TIMES before your rear tires wear out. That's expensive!

Why your front tires usually wear out faster All of those three-point turns, right turns, u-turns and parallel parking put a lot of pressure on your front tires. If you have a front-wheel drive car, the turns cause more friction and heat, which wear down the tires even faster than the rears.

How to make your tires last up to 3X longer Because your front tires bear so much burden, you should rotate your tires from front-to-rear several times during their life cycle.

This lets all four tires wear evenly, which can:

• Increase gas mileage
• Improve ride comfort
• Give you maximum life for each tire
• Improve handling during sudden stops or turns

How often should I rotate my tires? With new car engineering and tire technology, you can sometimes wait up to 5,000 miles between rotations. Your car owner's manual will tell you what's best.

Here's the easiest way to make sure it's done timely: Rotate your tires every time you get an oil change. That's every 3,500 – 5,000 miles on most vehicles.

This way, you can get both done in one convenient stop.

And if you come Monday-Friday between 2-5 pm, our certified mechanics will change your oil and rotate your tires for only $25! 

Just ask for our Happy Hour Oil Change special.

To your safety, Patty

P.S.  At Mill Street Tire, we automatically check your spare for proper tire pressure and safety.

When buying tires, most people base their decision on the lowest price. But many times, this fools you into paying more.

When buying new or used tires, you’ll always choose the best deal when you look at the cost per 1,000 miles of tread life.

Example: Tire A costs $50 and lasts 45,000 miles Tire A = $1.11 per thousand  ($50/45,000miles = .001 x 1000 = 1.11)

Tire B costs $60 and lasts 65,000 miles Tire B = $0.85 per thousand

Tire B is the better deal.

When you just look at the price, Tire B looks like it costs $10 more. But if you look at the lifetime use of the tire, Tire B is a much better deal because it actually costs 31% LESS!

What if you’re buying used tires? When you’re trying to save a few dollars, used tires often look like a great deal. But most of the time, they’re not.

Consider this:

A used tire may cost $30 and give you 5,000 miles of use. Pay just double that for a new tire and get 65,000 miles of use.

This means, for a few bucks more, you can get 13 times more tire life. And you ensure the safety of you and your loved ones.

Now that’s a deal!

To your safety, Patty