By learning to read early warning signs, you can prevent many wear problems that shorten tyre life by thousands of miles. The most common problems to watch out for are listed in: 'Checking tread' in the section 'Maintaining a tyre.'

Proper inflation is the single most important part of tyre care. The inflation pressure on the side of the tyre is the MAXIMUM operating pressure. It is not necessarily the right inflation for your vehicle. Always use the inflation recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. You can find it in your owner's manual, posted on the edge of the driver's door, on a door post or on the inside of the glove box door. Always check inflation when tyres are COLD: when the vehicle has been driven less than a mile, or one hour or more after driving. Use a good quality tyre gauge. Note: It's natural for radial tyres to have a slight bulge in the sidewall at their proper inflation pressure. Check or adjust inflation every few weeks, before any long trip or if travelling with a heavy load. And don't forget to check the spare. Your D2D retailer can answer any questions you may have about tyre inflation.

If a tyre loses all or most of its air pressure, it must be removed from the wheel for a complete internal inspection to be sure it's not damaged. Tyres that are run even short distances while flat are often damaged beyond repair. Most punctures, nail holes, or cuts up to 1/4 inch -- confined to the tread -- may be satisfactorily repaired by trained personnel using industry-approved methods. Don't repair tyres with tread punctures larger than 1/4 inch, or any sidewall puncture. Also, never repair tyres which are worn below 1/16 inch tread depth. Your best bet is to make sure your spare tyre is always ready to do the job. Check it regularly for proper air pressure and be sure that it is in good shape. If your car is equipped with one of the several types of temporary spares, be sure to check the spare tyre's sidewall for the correct inflation pressure, speed, and mileage limitations. See your D2D retailer for expert tyre repair.

Due to the variety of causes for air loss, this question can only be answered by an authorized D2D retailer.