To get the most out of your tires - maximum mileage, safety and wear - proper maintenance is needed.

Check Tire Pressure

Tires have been known to lose up to 1 psi (pounds per square inch) every month. Check all tires, including your spare, once a month. Here's how:

• Purchase a trusted pressure gauge.

• Check your tires "cold" - before you've driven or at least three hours after you've driven. Insert pressure gauge into the valve stem on your tire. The gauge will "pop" out and show a measured number.

• Compare the measured psi to the psi found on the sticker inside the driver's door of your vehicle or in owner's manual. Do not compare to the psi on your tires's sidewall.

• If your psi is above the number, let air out until it matches. If the number is below, add air until it reaches the proper number.

Tire Inspection

Check your tires for wear and damage problems once every month and before you embark on long road trips. One way to check for wear is by using the penny test. Here's how:

• Take a penny and hold Abe Lincoln's body between your thumb and forefinger.

• Select a point on your tire where the tread appears the lowest and place Lincoln's head into one of the grooves.

• If any part of Abe Lincoln's head is covered by the tread, you're driving with the legal and safe amount of tread. If your tread gets below that (approximately 2/32 of an inch), your car's ability to grip the road in adverse conditions is greatly reduced.

Tire Rotation

Regular rotation helps extend the life of your tires and improve performance. Each tire and wheel is removed from your vehicle during a rotation and moved to a different position to ensure that all tires wear evenly and last longer. Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

LIFETIME TIRE ROTATIONS ARE FREE AT RABEN WHEN YOU BUY ANY SET OF TIRES.

Tire Alignment

Alignment refers to the adjustment of a vehicle's front and rear suspension parts. Tires on a vehicle that is out of alignment will wear irregularly.

Daily impacts such as potholes and railroad crossings, as well as more severe circumstances like a car accident, can knock your vehicle out of alignment. You should have the alignment checked if:

• You've hit something substantial.

• You see a wear pattern developing on the shoulders (outer edges) of the tires.

• You notice a difference in your vehicle's handling.