()You should be careful about a spoon sticking in your tires

Yes. The answer is yes. According to a national survey of auto service professionals this common kitchen tool is a potential danger – even one of the more uncommon ones – that could cause damage to your tires if it’s not used with care. Your car’s four tires are the only thing that connects it to the road. They also have an impact on everything, from handling to braking, which is crucial for your safety. It’s important to maintain your tires, especially considering the potential dangers they can pose.

You might be surprised at some of these, such as a spoon. We’ll get to that in a moment.

Cooper Tires study, conducted by Auto Service Professional magazine, couldn’t have come at better time. Nearly 100 million Americans are predicted to have taken a family trip by year’s end according to a new AAA Travel surveyThey have many plans, including upcoming spring and Summer road trips.

Tire damage is something many Americans have had to deal with, despite the fact that they drive every day, whether it’s for family vacations or daily commutes. According to the study, the most common causes for tire damage include running over something like a curb (72%), nails (70%), and potholes (39%). You can also avoid common causes of tire wear, like driving with bald tires (48%), and driving with low tire pressure (44%). Auto service professionals suggest checking your tires regularly, rotating them and paying attention the Tire Pressure Monitoring System light (TPMS).

The one place you should avoid while driving is construction zones. Construction zones are the reason so many tires get punctured with wrenches, screwsdrivers, pliers, and spikes.

Drivers face many road obstacles throughout the year. Winter potholes (72%), and hidden hazards under the fresh snow (59%), are the two main sources of tire damage. These can range from cracks in pavement to truck debris. Overheating can be caused by underinflated tires (88%).

“The four tires on your vehicle are the only parts to come in contact with and keep you connected to the road,”Jess Egerton, director for brand development at Cooper TiresSince 1914, he has been manufacturing tires. “That’s why, for safety and performance reasons, you have to properly care for, maintain and inspect them.”

It means:

* Checking tire inflation on a regular basis. Even a single tire that is 8 psi underinflated can cause a decrease in tire life and increase fuel consumption of 4 percent.

* Replacing tires when worn to 2/32 inches tread depth anywhere on the tread face.

* Visually checking tires for things like missing valve caps, uneven tread wear and any foreign objects that could spell serious problems should they become even more deeply embedded while driving.

Now, let’s get to the more unusual hazards.

Toys in pieces Porcupine quills. Pork chop bones. Spoons. It’s all up to you – even service professionals who recounted discovering them in tires.

“Auto service professionals have pulled a lot of unusual things out of tires over the years,”Greg Smith, editor of Auto Service Professional magazine, said: “But, really, it might surprise people to know that a lot of tire damage is simply due to poor maintenance and wear and tear.”