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Alabama driving lesson · Your Vehicle

Tires, maintenance and trip planning

A 3-minute lesson from the Alabama course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Your Vehicle
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
14, 82, 83

Brakes, exhaust and cooling systems, lights, wipers and tires all wear out. Any one of them can cause a serious crash if neglected. A few simple checks keep your car safe.

Check tire pressure monthly with a gauge:

  • Find the PSI number on the sticker inside the driver's door jamb
  • Remove the valve cap and check pressure while the tires are cold
  • Too high: let air out. Too low: inflate until the numbers match
Handbook p. 14 ↗

Check tread depth with a penny:

  • Hold the penny with Lincoln's body between your thumb and forefinger
  • Put Lincoln's head first into the deepest-looking groove
  • If you can see all of his head, the tires are too worn: replace them
Handbook p. 14 ↗

Tire care:

  • Buy the proper tires for your car so they carry the weight
  • Check pressure often; never drive on under-inflated tires
  • Look for cuts, bruises and foreign objects when the car is serviced
  • Uneven wear? Have the wheels and/or alignment inspected
  • Avoid jack-rabbit starts and screeching halts; take it easy on corners and rough surfaces
  • On long warm-weather trips, stop and let tires cool
  • Never use different types of tires; check your spare periodically
Handbook p. 82 ↗

Know the rule

The only efficient, safe vehicle is one that's properly maintained. Have your car checked so defective equipment gets repaired.

Handbook p. 83 ↗

Plan your trip:

  • Use a map and decide exactly where to get on and off the freeway
  • Check your gas gauge and get fuel if you don't have enough; there are no stations on freeways
  • Check water and oil
  • Make sure the car is in good mechanical condition
  • Check all tires, including the spare, for inflation, good tread and cuts
Handbook p. 83 ↗

Put it into practice

Before a road trip you slide a penny head-first into a tire groove and can see the top of Lincoln's head. The tread is too worn, so replace the tire before you go. Then check that the spare is inflated.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

Why is proper vehicle maintenance important, according to the handbook?
  1. It's required only for commercial vehicles
  2. It mainly improves fuel mileage
  3. It only affects resale value
  4. Worn, defective parts can cause a serious crash

Answer: Worn, defective parts can cause a serious crash

The handbook explains that worn or defective brakes, exhaust, lights, wipers, or tires can cause serious accidents if not maintained.

Handbook p. 83 ↗
Before a long trip, what should you check in addition to your gasoline gauge?
  1. Water, oil, and tires (and spare)
  2. Only the tire pressure
  3. Only the brake fluid
  4. Only the odometer reading

Answer: Water, oil, and tires (and spare)

Trip planning includes checking water and oil, plus tires (including the spare) for proper inflation, tread, and cuts.

Handbook p. 83 ↗
Why does the handbook recommend checking your gas gauge before getting on a freeway?
  1. Gas stations are closed on freeways at night
  2. No gas stations are right on freeways
  3. Stations near freeways charge more
  4. It's a legal requirement to fill up first

Answer: No gas stations are right on freeways

Since there are no service stations directly on freeways, you should fuel up and check fluids before your trip.

Handbook p. 83 ↗
What should you do periodically with your vehicle's spare tire?
  1. Check it, since you may need it
  2. Replace it every 6 months regardless of use
  3. Remove it to save weight
  4. Deflate it slightly for storage

Answer: Check it, since you may need it

The handbook advises periodically checking your spare tire because you may need it.

Handbook p. 82 ↗
Uneven tire wear can be a sign that the wheels and/or alignment need inspection.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

The handbook advises having wheels and/or alignment inspected if tire wear is uneven.

Handbook p. 82 ↗
You should make “jack-rabbit” starts and screeching halts routinely to test your tires' grip.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

The handbook advises treating tires kindly and avoiding jack-rabbit starts or screeching halts unless absolutely necessary.

Handbook p. 82 ↗
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