The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends four easy tire care tips to keep your rubber on the road.

1) Air Up -- Your tires are engineered to handle tens of thousands of miles and contribute to braking, steering, cornering and proper vehicle handling. But they cannot put air in themselves.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under inflated tires contribute to about 660 fatalities and 33,000 injuries each year.

Check air pressure once a month and before long trips. Remember to use a tire gauge and check the owner’s manual for the right pressure for your vehicle or look for the sticker on the driver’s side door. Don’t use the pressure listed on the tire sidewall, which lists the maximum pressure for the tire.

Also, a tire can lose 1 pound per square inch (psi) of pressure for every 10 degree Fahrenheit drop in outside air temperature. So keep that tire gauge handy.

2) Measure It -- Your tires’ grip on the road depends on the amount of tread depth. NHTSA estimates that about 9 percent of cars have at least one bald tire. If your tires are bald, you’re in danger, particularly on wet road surfaces.

Tires have built-in wear indicators on the tread. When a tire reaches its minimum safe tread depth, rubber strips will appear across the tread.

You can also use the “penny test” to measure your tread depth. Take a penny and insert it head-first into the tire tread groove. If you can see all of President Lincoln’s head, it’s time for a new tire. That means your tire has less than 2/32 of an inch of tread.

3) Rotate -- Rotating tires every 6,000-8,000 miles will help your tires wear evenly. Have a tire service professional rotate your tires in accordance with your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation.

4) Feel “Adrift”? -- Ever notice your vehicle pulling or drifting to one side? You could have a vehicle alignment problem. When that happens, you can cause uneven wear on your tires. If you hit a pothole or curb, you may knock your car out of alignment. Have it checked periodically.

“Basic tire care is simple and only takes a few minutes each month,” said Donald B. Shea, RMA president and CEO. “Properly maintained tires will help maximize safety, fuel efficiency and tire life.”