64 Chapter 4 — Your Driving Mirrors Brakes Anti-lock Braking System Auto Theft Prevention Tires Tires are important for stopping your vehicle. Never drive on smooth tires or  tires that have fabric showing. Tires without enough air wear out more quickly.  Also, tires without enough air increase the likelihood of a blowout. Over- inflated tires reduce traction and wear heavily on the middle of the tread. Every vehicle operated on the streets and highways of North Carolina must  be equipped with tires that are safe for the operation of the vehicle and do not  expose the public to needless hazards. Tires are considered unsafe if they are  cut, cracked or worn so as to expose the tire cord, or when they have visible  tread separation, chunking or less than 1/16-inch-tread depth.  To help prevent auto theft, never leave the key in the ignition switch of an  unattended vehicle.  With ABS, it is important to brake hard and keep firm and steady pressure  on the brake pedal while stopping. Pumping the brake pedal or releasing the  steady pressure on the brake pedal will reduce the effectiveness of the ABS. Anti-lock brakes, or ABS, can help improve vehicle stability (avoiding spin- outs), steerability (directing the vehicle where the driver wants it to go) and  stopping capability (distance needed to stop the vehicle). Check and adjust the mirrors before you begin to drive. The rear-view mirror  should show what is directly behind you. Adjust the side mirrors to show the  scene to the left and right rear of the vehicle. The mirrors should barely reflect  the side of the vehicle. • All motor vehicles produced since 1955 must have red or amber lights that  engage when the brakes or turn signals are used — these lights may be  combined with the taillights or may be separated, and they must be visible for  at least 100 feet in normal daylight. • Because hand signals are difficult to see at night, it is important that a  vehicle’s lights have clean lenses and stay in proper working order. • Every motor vehicle that operates on a public roadway must be equipped with  brakes to adequately control the movement of, stop and hold the vehicle. • All vehicles should have originally equipped brakes in good working condition  — having two separate means of applying the brakes. • The brake pedal should be at least one-third of its original distance from the  floor when fully depressed. If it is not, the brakes must be checked and, if  necessary, repaired. • If the pedal gradually lowers under the pressure of your foot, the hydraulic  system must be checked. • Brakes that squeak when you depress the brake pedal can indicate a problem,  have them checked. Do not risk a possible loss of the brakes.