Just like how your feet can begin to feel quite sore after a long walk, the tires on your car take a beating each time you drive. Wear and tear is a part of a tire’s lifetime, and it is an inevitable fact of life that your car’s tires will need a replacement.
Tire failure, while you are driving, can be catastrophic. It can cause your car to go out of control or leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere with no easy way to go home. It is safe to say that nobody wants to keep using the tires on their car until they give out.
You want to know when your tires are in bad shape, so you can get new tires before something goes horribly wrong – not after the fact. If you have a mechanic take a look at your car from time to time, they can probably tell you if the tires need to be changed. However, you do not need to wait till your next visit to the local auto shop to make sure your tires are in good shape.
We will discuss some of the most important warning signs you need new tires that you need to watch out for.
5 Warning Signs You Need New Tires
Here is a good look at the warning signs you need new tires.
1. The tread depth has declined
As your tires age and wear out, the tire treads begin to decline. The treads should never fall below a sixteenth of an inch in dept. If you regularly drive on wet and slicker surfaces, you would be safer driving with at least twice that tire tread depth.
It is impossible to tell the depth of the tread on your tires by just looking at it. You can buy a gauge to measure the tread depth the way professionals do it. Of course, there is an old trick that can help you find that out without buying the gauge. It will cost you no more than one penny – literally.
Take a Lincoln-head penny and insert Abe’s head into the tread. If his entire head is visible, you do not have enough tread left in the tire. You need to take the car to the mechanic and get a new set of tires.
2. Tread wear indicator bar
Newer tires offer more convenience than older tires. They have tread wear indicator bars that let you know when you need to make the change. These bars are barely visible when your tires are new. As the tires begin to wear down, these indicator bars start to appear.
The indicators look like flat rubber bars that run perpendicular to the direction of the tread. If you start seeing a couple of these, it is a sign that the tread has started getting low. You can use the penny test to double-check the depth when these indicators start to appear on the tires.
If both tests show that the tread depth is too low, you need to get new tires.
3. Cracks in the sidewall
Not all the warning signs you need new tires appear on the tread. You can even see them in the sidewall. It is easier to detect signs of damage on the sidewall by just looking at them. Take the time out to conduct visual inspections of your tires periodically. Look for cracks or cuts in the sidewall.
If you see any visible grooves or cuts, this could be a sign that your tire is developing a leak. It could also be a sign that it is read to blow out. If you notice any signs like these, you should take immediate action and get in touch with your local mechanic to get them replaced.
4. Blisters or bulges on the tire
Sometimes the outer surface of tires can begin to become weak. When that happens, tires can develop blisters or bulges that protrude from the surface. This weak spot might not look too dangerous, but it can cause a serious and sudden blowout without any warning.
If you see your car’s tires blistering or bulging, you should not waste any time and take your car to the mechanic to have them replaced. Ignoring this problem is very dangerous.
5. The car is vibrating too much
When you’re driving the car, it is natural for it to vibrate to a certain degree – especially when you are driving on a bad road with poor paving. If you have been driving for a while, you should be able to tell how much vibration should feel right and how much vibration means that something is wrong.
It could be a sign that your tires are unbalanced or misaligned. It could even be due to a problem with the shock absorbers. Too much vibration can also be a sign that there’s a major problem within the tires themselves. If your car has a bad case of the shakes, especially if you’re not driving on a poorly paved road, you need to get it checked out by professionals.
Do Your Tires Need Replacement?
If you have been seeing, hearing, or feeling any of the signs above, you should realize that your car needs new tires immediately. You should not delay getting a professional opinion on this and take your vehicle for car maintenance and repair in Columbus, OH.
Ignoring your tires when they need a replacement for too long could cause minor inconvenience at best or dangerous accidents at its worst. Properly tires are critical for your safety and others on the road.
At ATL Columbus, we’ve been taking care of cars for several years. We specialize in brakes, alignments, complete engine repair, smog inspections, oil changes, and much more, so contact us and drop by with your vehicle any time. We’ll take a closer look and give you a better opinion on whether you need new tires and where you can get them.
