The key to peak tire performance is checking tires regularly, says Tomas Bennett, market segment manager for the Earthmover Group of Michelin North America. Routine maintenance reduces downtime, eliminates preventable major repairs, improves operating efficiency and promotes higher levels of productivity.

• Conduct a visual inspection of your vehicle's tires prior to operation. Look for signs of irregular wear in the tread or shoulder of the tire and examine the tire for bubbles or bumps caused by air infiltration or foreign objects. If you notice either of these symptoms, have the tire repaired promptly because both can lead to tire failure and potential danger.

• If you notice deep cracks, cuts or other major problems during the inspection, don't operate the vehicle. Have a trained service person diagnose the severity of the problem and make the proper repairs.

• Check tires for correct air pressures. Perform this step daily on vehicles in constant use because air pressure is critical to a tire's performance. Check air pressure weekly on vehicles with less demanding schedules.

• Check the vehicle's owner's manual to determine precise air pressure. It should provide initial data on the weight of the vehicle and standard load.

• Never operate a vehicle that has flat tires, damaged or distorted rims or wheels, missing bolts or cracked studs.

• Never weld or apply heat to parts of the wheel near the tire. Heat causes serious damage to tires and can cause them to explode.

• Store tires properly when they are not in use. Place them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to avoid premature aging. Also, prevent exposure to ozone sources such as sun, arc-welders and mercury vapor light bulbs, as well as ultraviolet rays and inclement weather. Store tires standing upright on the tread and avoid stacking, which can weaken the tires on the bottom of the stack.

• Avoid lifting tires through the center with a crane hook, because this can damage the critical bead area. Instead, lift the tire under the tread by using flat straps. Flat straps are recommended over steel slings or chains because they will not cause cuts or abrasions.

• Deflate the inner and outer tires of a twin fitment before removing any rim fixture from the hub of the wheels.

• Avoid mixing tires on your vehicle. For example, pairing a normal tread depth with a deep tread depth or a bias-ply tire with a radial. Using two different types of tires could cause damage to the vehicle's internal components because the tires do not work together to provide the same traction and handling performance.

Information provided by Michelin Earthmover Group, Greenville, S.C.