How Do You Know When You Should Replace Your Tires

Tires are meant to be changed if you suspect there’s something wrong with them. Most car owners know this, but they aren’t exactly sure how to tell when they should be changing them. Driving with old, worn down tires is extremely unsafe. To better protect you and your family, these are the most popular indications of when you should replace your tires.

Damage

Damage is one of the more obvious tire complications, as it will cause the tire to go flat. If the hole is small enough, the tire can sometimes be repaired, but it’s often better to just buy a new tire. There is a list of other damages that don’t cause your tire to go flat. A bubble can mean your tire has serious internal damage. You shouldn’t drive with this type of problem and the tire needs to be replaced immediately.

A tire with a cut in it may go deep enough to make your tire deemed unsafe. If you have an object stuck inside one of the tire treads, there are different precautions that need to be taken. For example, a rock being stuck lodged in the tread is fine. Something sharp like a nail or screw is different. It’s important to not drive any farther than you need to. Oftentimes, if the puncture is small enough, you can repair it yourself. Other times, you can just bring your car to a repair shop to get your mechanic to either repair or replace the tire altogether.

Performance

If you’ve just signed a new Honda Civic lease in Los Angeles, getting the most out of your tire’s performance is imperative. When your tire does need a replacement based on performance, it often means there are two types of problems: the tire needs air or there is a vibration while driving.

You should be checking your tire’s air pressure regularly to ensure the longevity of your tires. The owner’s manual will have the recommended pressure of your car and will often cite how often you should replace your tires. Any leaks that occur can happen because of cracked wheels. You must get a qualified mechanic to look for the source of the problem.

When you feel a slight vibration while driving, it can be caused by worn tires or wheel balance. A repair shop can easily check the balance for you. They will then rebalance the wheel, which is much cheaper than having to replace a whole tire.

Tread Wear

Tires must be replaced when the tread is too worn. The problem is that a lot of car owners have no idea when that is. If the wear is uneven across the entire tire, you’ll be able to tell if it should be replaced. If this occurs, you will need to get the tire replaced. It’s also best if you get your wheels aligned as poor alignment is usually the main cause of uneven wear.

The tricky thing to spot is when you have a tread that is worn, but even across the entire tire. To check this, you can place a penny that is upside down with Lincoln’s head facing you. The penny should be placed into the grooves of the tire tread so that only a small piece of Lincoln’s head is hidden. The minimum most states allow is two millimeters. If the tread is less than that it’s usually unsafe.

If you do the same test with a nickel instead, you can tell whether the tires are at four millimeters. This measurement is best for good traction in wet weather.

Age

Most tires get replaced before they reach this point. If your tires have made it to the ten-year mark, they need to be replaced immediately. Six years is usually the cutoff point for safety, meaning you could be driving with some unsafe tires. Having your Honda HRV in Los Angeles means the tires may age faster because of the hot climate you live in.

The one obvious point of age-related problems is cracks in the sidewalls. The tire could be experiencing dry rot and will have to be replaced. Most car owners know how long they’ve had a certain set of tires, meaning age-related problems shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

Season

Depending on where you live, you may need to have two sets of tires: one for the majority of the year and the other for winter. The winter tires should be changed as the weather gets closer to snow. These tires are meant to have better traction in snow than regular all-season tires. If you live in a warmer climate, this is something you will not need to worry about, although your tires may age faster because of the constant sunlight.

When you’re getting your tires replaced, it’s best to consider the other factors involved. You must determine whether you are going to get multiple tires replaced, whether to get an alignment or know how to drive with the new tires you’re getting. For the most part, it’s best to get tires replaced in pairs (either both rear tires or both front tires). This is to ensure that your drive is relatively smooth. Also, it’s not smart to have mismatched tires on different wheels. This can turn out to be dangerous as handling is much more difficult.

Getting your wheels aligned regularly can help the longevity of your vehicle. Try to get your wheels aligned at least once every two years, or every time you get a tire replacement. A professional mechanic will be happy to complete this task for you.

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