Recognizing When Your Car Needs New Tires

Your vehicle can’t run properly without healthy, properly inflated tires. Driving with aged or damaged tires increases your chances of tire failure on the road. Driving with poorly maintained tires can even compromise your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Use these warning signs to learn how to replace tires in a timely fashion.

Tire wear checks should be a regular part of your routine maintenance schedule. The shape and wear patterns of your tires reveal quite a bit about when and if they require replacement. Drivers can use a penny to gauge the wear needs of their tires. Place the coin between the treads upside down. If the top of Lincoln’s head is visible, then your tires are worn past safe use. Tires with grossly uneven wear also require replacement. Such tires mar overall vehicle performance and may also indicate a suspension problem.

Tires should be replaced periodically as well. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends changing tires at least every six years. Ten years is the absolute maximum before a full replacement, and that is with proper tire rotations. Mileage may be a more pertinent guide if your driving schedule is highly irregular, or if you regularly drive more than the average driver. Take your vehicle in for a tire check every 40,000 miles to get professional advice on the safety status of your tires. Regular exposure to intense weather or harsh road conditions may also affect the frequency of your tire replacements.

Cracks are a familiar symptom of tires that are nearing the end of their service life. However, adverse environmental conditions can accelerate this deterioration of tire quality. Intense heat from an engine or excessive exposure to UV light can significantly escalate cracking in tire rubber. These same issues can also cause tires to blister. Each of these symptoms will eventually lead to decreased tire performance on the road and increased chances of a dangerous blowout.

Don’t let tire trouble cost you hundreds of dollars in tow fees and extra repairs. Spot potential performance failures early by working with the technicians at Casey Automotive . Dial (866) 709-3522 to learn more.