Many people don’t understand when to change the tires on their vehicle. While this may not sound like a big deal, driving on worn tires will increase your chance of an accident. Remember, the only thing between you and the road is your tires.
At some point, your tires will begin to wear down and lose performance. This means less braking ability and traction, as well as difficulties navigating wet roadways. Tires with worn tread are dangerous and you need to be able to test you tires and determine if you need new ones.
6 tips that will help you decide when it is time to get new tires:
1. Understand what it means to be driving on worn tires. Generally speaking, the primary function of tire tread is to help avoid hydroplaning on wet roads by diverting water from beneath the tire. For this to be effective, you need at least 1/16th of an inch of tread (and that is on the extreme low side).
2. Keep a close watch on the tread wear bars. All tires sold in today’s market are equipped with tread wear bars. As your tires wear lower and lower, you will begin to realize that the wear bars are flush with the tread. It is at this point that you need to replace your tires.
3. Use the penny test. For many years, drivers have been using this test to determine if it is time for new tires. All you need is a penny and a couple minutes of time. Place the penny upside down in the center of the tread. Can you see Lincoln’s head? If so, it is time to replace your tires. If you are unable to see any of his head, including his hair, your tires do not need to be replaced just yet.
4. Purchase a tread depth gauge or indicator. If you are unable or unwilling to use one of the methods above to check tire tread, you can purchase an indicator or gauge. These are cheap to purchase and can go a long way in saving you trouble on the road.
5. What are the legal requirements in your state? In addition to a basic safety concern, you must realize that your state likely has legal requirements regarding the replacement of worn tires. For example, most states in the US consider tires to be worn out when they are down to 1/16 of an inch of tread. At this point, your vehicle will not pass state inspection until you purchase new tires.
6. Watch for irregular tread wear. This has nothing to do with the quality of the tires, but could instead be a result of misaligned wheels or the need to rotate the tires. Rather than let this problem persist, take your vehicle to a qualified mechanic. Once you problem is diagnosed, it can be fixed to ensure that your tires do not continue to wear in an irregular pattern.
Better to be Safe than Sorry
Do you feel that your tires are worn out? Are you avoiding this because of the cost associated with buying new tires? Although you may think that putting this off for a few more months is no big deal, it is better to be safe than sorry.
If you are unsure of whether or not you need new tires, the best thing you can do is have a professional mechanic inspect each one for you. A professional opinion that will shape your decision.
With this information, you should be able to tell when it is time to change your tires. Our GM Certified mechanics will be glad to take a look at your tires for you. And whether you need new tires or not, you can feel safer every time you take to the road knowing you have good tires on your car.
