Service | St. Peters, MO
Winter is over and your tires took the beating. A quick spring check shows what the cold, the salt and the potholes left behind.
The first warm Saturday in April, half of St. Peters is out washing salt off their cars. That's a good moment to crouch down and look at your tires too, because a winter here asks a lot of them.
Cold air drops tire pressure. Potholes on the ramps and back roads bruise sidewalls. Weeks of slush and salt hide wear you'd spot right away in summer. The good news is a spring tire check takes very little time, and it tells you if you're set for the year or due for a new set. Below is what we look at, what you can check yourself, and how to tell when it's time to replace.
Quick answer: In spring, check tire pressure against the placard in the driver's door jamb, look for low or uneven tread, and inspect sidewalls for cuts and bulges left by winter potholes. Rotate the tires if they're due. If tread is low, wear is uneven, or a sidewall is damaged, have the tires inspected, and replace them before summer storms and road trips.
Pressure spec
On the driver door jamb
Check monthly
Pressure and tread
Spring extra
Look for pothole damage
In this post
Why Is Spring a Good Time for a Tire Check?
Tires lose pressure as the temperature falls, so a lot of vehicles finish the winter running low without the driver noticing. A tire that's been low for weeks wears faster on the outside edges and runs warmer than it should.
Winter also brings impacts. Freeze and thaw cycles open potholes on the roads around St. Charles County, and every sharp hit is a chance to cut or bruise a sidewall. Then spring itself puts tires to work. Heavy rain on I-70 and Highway 364 is where worn tread shows up, because shallow grooves can't clear water as well.

What Can You Check on Your Own Tires at Home?
You don't need tools beyond a tire gauge and a penny. Do it in the morning before you drive, when the tires are cold.
Check pressure
Use the pressure on the placard in the driver's door jamb, not the maximum printed on the tire. Check all four, plus the spare if your Lincoln has one.
Look at the tread
Put a penny upside down in a groove. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, the tread is getting low. Check the inside, middle and outside of each tire.
Run your hand across it
Feel for scalloped or choppy wear. That pattern often points to an alignment or suspension issue.
Inspect the sidewalls
Look for cuts, cracks or a bulge. Turn the wheel to full lock to see the inside edges of the front tires.
Your tire pressure warning helps, but it usually comes on only once a tire is noticeably low. A gauge check once a month catches slow leaks sooner.
St. Peters driver tip
Gas stations along Mid Rivers Mall Drive and Salt River Road have air machines, but their gauges are often off. Keep a simple gauge in the glove box and check pressure at home after the vehicle has sat overnight. If you just drove in from O'Fallon, the tires are warm and will read high.
Which Tire Problems Need Attention Right Away?
Some issues can wait for your next service visit. These shouldn't:
A bulge or bubble in the sidewall
The inner structure of the tire is damaged. It can fail without warning, especially at highway speed.
Cords or wire showing
The tread is worn through. Replace the tire before you drive any distance.
A tire that keeps losing air
A nail, a leaking valve or a bent wheel from a pothole can all cause slow leaks. Get it found and fixed.
A new vibration at highway speed
Could be a balance weight that came off, a bent wheel, or a tire that's separating inside. Have it checked soon.
Uneven wear on one edge
Often a sign the alignment is off. New tires on a misaligned vehicle start wearing wrong from the first mile.
If the alignment looks like the cause, mention it when you book. It makes sense to sort that out before or with new tires.
How Do Rotation and Tire Repair Fit In?
Front and rear tires wear differently, so moving them around on a schedule evens things out and helps the set last longer. Your Lincoln's maintenance schedule lists the interval. Spring is a natural time to do it if you're due.
A nail in the tread can often be repaired if it's in the right spot and the tire wasn't driven flat. Damage in the sidewall or the shoulder usually can't be repaired safely, and the tire has to be replaced. Our technicians will tell you which one you're looking at.
Lincoln Mobile Service lists tire rotation, plus tire repair and replacement when properly equipped, among the jobs it can do at your home or office. Call ahead to see whether your job and location fit a mobile visit.
Schedule a Tire CheckExplore Mobile Service
When Should You Replace Lincoln Tires?
Tread depth is the usual signal. Many drivers start shopping well before the legal minimum, because wet grip drops off as the grooves get shallow. Age matters too. Rubber hardens over time even with good tread left, and the build date is molded into the sidewall. Ask a technician to read it for you.
Replace in pairs at least, and a full set on all wheel drive models is often recommended so the tires stay close in size. Your owner's guide covers this for your model. Our tire care page lists 17 name brands, including Michelin, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli and Bridgestone, so we can match the size and type your Lincoln calls for.
Rubber hardens over time even with good tread left, and the build date is molded into the sidewall.

What Comes With a Tire Visit at Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters?
The work is done by factory trained and certified technicians with the equipment Lincoln wheels and tires need. Our tire care page also lists parts and labor warranties, a complimentary Lincoln loaner and a customer lounge with WiFi if you'd rather wait.
If you have questions about a size or a tire type before you come in, the tire care page has a form where you can enter your vehicle and tire size. You can also check current service and parts specials before you book.
Book it your way
Pick a time online, schedule in the Lincoln app, or call 636-441-4400. If your Lincoln is still within the 4 year or 50,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty, Pickup and Delivery is complimentary, with a Lincoln loaner while we work and a wash before it comes home.
Explore Pickup and DeliveryQuestions Owners Ask About Tire Pressure
What tire pressure should my Lincoln run?
Use the pressure on the placard in the driver's door jamb or in your owner's guide. The number on the tire sidewall is a maximum, not the target.
Why does my tire pressure light come on when it gets cold?
Cold air shrinks, so pressure drops on cold mornings. Add air to the placard spec. If the light keeps coming back, you may have a slow leak.
Should I check tire pressure hot or cold?
Cold, before you drive or after the vehicle has sat a few hours. Warm tires read higher and can fool you into letting air out.
Questions Owners Ask About Tread
How do I know if my tread is too low?
The penny test gives a quick read, and many tires have wear bars molded into the grooves. When the tread is level with the bars, the tire is worn out.
Why do my tires wear on the edges?
Wear on both edges often points to low pressure. Wear on one edge often points to alignment. A technician can tell you which.
Can tires be too old even with good tread?
Yes. Rubber ages and hardens over time. Have a technician check the build date on the sidewall if your tires have been on for several years.
Questions Owners Ask About Damage
Can a tire with a nail be repaired?
Often, if the nail is in the tread and the tire wasn't driven flat. Sidewall and shoulder damage usually means replacement.
Is a small sidewall bulge safe to drive on?
No. A bulge means the tire's inner structure is damaged. Drive slowly to get it replaced and stay off the highway if you can.
Did a pothole damage my tire?
Look for a bulge, a cut or a dent in the wheel, and pay attention to new vibration or a slow leak. If you're unsure, have it inspected.
Questions Owners Ask About Buying Tires
Which tire brands does Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters carry?
Our tire care page lists 17 name brands, including Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Continental, Pirelli, Hankook and Yokohama.
Do I need to replace all four tires on an all wheel drive Lincoln?
Often yes, so the tires stay close in size. Check your owner's guide and ask our technicians what fits your situation.
Do new tires come with a warranty?
Our tire care page lists parts and labor warranties. Ask your service advisor for the terms on the specific tires you choose.
Questions Owners Ask About Tire Service Here
How do I schedule tire service in St. Peters?
Book online on our service scheduler or call 636-441-4400. Tell us your tire size if you know it.
Can Lincoln Mobile Service rotate my tires at home?
Tire rotation is on the Mobile Service list, along with tire repair and replacement when properly equipped. Call to see if your location qualifies.
Can I wait while my tires are done?
Yes. The customer lounge has WiFi, and a complimentary Lincoln loaner is listed as an option if you'd rather leave.